Sept. 14, 2006

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Five years ago, Marshall Thundering Herd head coach Leonard Kraus was named the first coach in program history and was given the difficult task of building a program from the ground up. Four seasons and two conferences later, Kraus must replace the program's first recruiting class that included three individual record holders, four-time NCAA Zone Qualifier Casey Mulholland and two-time NCAA qualifier Milla Kuurto.

Now, the Herd enters the program's fifth season, led by a veteran lineup, including junior co-captains Renee Lambert (Maryville, Tenn./William Blount) and Ashley McIlvain (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood).

"Even with our losses, I believe we are deeper and have the ability to be a better team," Kraus said. "It will depend greatly on this year's team leadership and multiple people stepping up to fill the holes left by Milla and Casey to see the `better team' idea fulfilled."

2006-2007 SCHEDULE
The Herd, which finished its first season in Conference USA with a 6-8 overall mark last year, opens the 2006-2007 slate at home against Xavier and West Virginia Wesleyan Friday, Oct. 13. Marshall will then venture to Morgantown, W.Va., to participate in the West Virginia Relays Saturday, Oct. 14.

Youngstown State then travels to Huntington Saturday, Oct. 28 before the Herd host a quad meet, featuring West Virginia, Duquesne and Conference USA rival East Carolina Saturday, Nov. 4. It will be the Herd's last home event for more than two months.

Two weeks later, the Herd travels to Bowling Green, Ky., to compete in the Western Kentucky Invitational Nov. 17-19. Then, Marshall will participate at the Miami Invitational Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Oxford, Ohio.

After swimming against four top 25 programs last season, the Herd will once again face a difficult schedule in the pool riddled with top 25 opponents, including Ohio State and Northwestern Jan. 12 in Columbus, Ohio. The addition of East Carolina and in-state rival WVU makes for one of the most difficult schedules in the conference.

Marshall will close out its regular season schedule with back-to-back home meets. Former Mid-American Conference rival Miami and Radford visit the Mountain State Friday, Jan. 19. Another former MAC foe, Ohio, will close out the schedule Tuesday, Jan. 23, in Huntington.

"I think that having this schedule helps in the long run, having seen a similar level of competition at the conference championships," Kraus said. "They should know no fear and be able to mix it up with anyone at conference."

DISTANCE/MIDDLE DISTANCE
Juniors Renee Lambert (Maryville, Tenn.), Ashley McIlvain (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Danielle Chappelle (London, Ontario, Canada) lead one of the Herd's strongest disciplines. Lambert is a very versatile swimmer who can swim the 100- through the mile freestyle and was voted one of the team's two captains this season. McIlvain joins Lambert as the other team captain and is the group's most consistent performer.

We know what we are going to get this season from Ashley," Kraus said. "I think she will be even faster this year with the season she had last year combined with a strong summer conditioning program."

Chappelle will be challenging both Lambert and McIlvain for the top spot. She has the ability along with Lambert and McIlvain to be in the top eight in the 1000-yard freestyle at the conference championships. Jessica Prater (South Point, Ohio) had a great sophomore year and looks to continue that level of improvement she has enjoyed over her first two seasons.

Sarah Brunette (Sarasota, Fla.) will also be counted on to improve and fight for points this season. Sophomores Kyla Jungclaus (Brownstown, Ind.), Kayla Truswell (London, Ontario, Canada) and freshman Kristin Wheatley (Columbus, Ind.) could also see action in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events this season.

SPRINT
Once again, this group will be led by seniors Emily Edmonson (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Cara Davison (Chesterton, Ind.). But, don't be surprised if junior Ashley Ezell (Maryville, Tenn.), Kyla Jungclaus (Brownstown, Ind.) or freshman Briana Burns (Spotsylvania, Va.) enjoy strong showings this season. As has been the case for the program's first four seasons, this will play a critical role in the team's success this season. Lambert, Samantha Noland (Dearborn, Mich.) and freshman Linea Bonfils (Copenhagen, Denmark) will also see action in both sprint and relay events.

"We were held scoreless in the sprint events at the C-USA Championships and that needs to change," Kraus said. "Everyone is this group has to step up and step up big this season."

BUTTERFLY
After an impressive freshman season, Truswell will be the Herd's number one swimmer in the butterfly events this season. Noland will be another swimmer who has a chance to step up and contribute a great deal in both the 100- and 200-yard events.

"It's hard losing the best butterflyer in the conference, but it is a fact we have to get used to and move forward," Kraus said. "The girls we have can work together to fill in those points lost."

Sophomore Camilla Overup (Koege, Denmarke) along with Edmonson and freshman Kelsie Eberly (Maineville, Ohio) will swim the 100-yard fly throughout the season. Prater and senior Trista Konya (Fairmont, W.Va.) will fill the same role in the 200-yard butterfly. How well these swimmers fill the void left by Kuurto will determine the how this group will shape this season.

"The critical thing is that someone has to move forward in the pack to lay claim to the number one relay postion and then continue to deliver meet in and meet out."

BACKSTROKE
Overup and senior Brittany Csonka (Bridgeport, W.Va.) will be the leaders of a young, but deeply talented backstroke group. Freshmen Eberly, Julia Petzka (Muelheim, Germany), Erin Kennedy (Simpsonville, S.C.) and Karli Alsop (Bloomington, Ind.) immediately improved the backstroke unit from a year ago. "This has been our thinnest group since day one of this program," Kraus added. "So, to be have a strong, deep group is exciting.

"We just have to have one or two of them step up and swim consistently like upperclassmen. I truly believe that is possible with this great group of freshmen."

BREASTSTROKE
The Thundering Herd's deepest discipline is led by the two top breaststrokers in program history - juniors Michaela Sceli (LaSalle, Ontario, Canada) and Erin Hill (Palm Harbor, Fla.). They will lead a large group that could score a lot of points this season. In addition to Sceli and Hill, two more juniors, Lauren Ford (St. Albans, W.Va.) and McIlvain, will be added to the mix as well. Ford owns the third-fastest 200-yard breaststroke time in program history. Bonfils, Wheatley, Melinsky and Burns gives the breastsroking core a promising look.

"Having this group gives us a great punch and versatility in not only the individual events, but the medley events as well," Kraus added. "Other than Michaela, everyone will do events outside of this stroke and that is great to have that kind of play in your lineup."

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Similar to the backstroke, the individual medley discipline has been thin the past four seasons. The Herd has never had a swimmer who participated in the IM first before other events. This season, that will change with Ford, who has developed in the IM performer Kraus has longed for since 2002. After coming in as a breaststroke, she has worked hard and has become someone this team looks to for a great swim every time she steps on the block. Newcomers Wheatley and Melinsky also fit the mold of Kraus' IM performer.

"I see Kristin and Ally fitting the same mold as Lauren, in terms of developing into swimmers the team will count on," Kraus continued. "I think they will deliver an amazing swim when they need it. They are both great student-athletes and I look forward to great things from them."

DIVING
For four seasons, Kraus was able to count on Mulholland, an NCAA Zone Qualifier, every meet. Now, sophomores Siobhan Schuurman (Edmonton, Albert, Canada) and Rachel Hannum (Point Pleasant, W.Va.) will manage the boards for the Herd this season. With Mulholland's departure, Schuurman, a mid-season addition last season, will step up as MU's number one diver.

"Our sophomore diver, Siobhan Schuurman, has the ability to put up some big scores this season," Marshall diving coach Lori Meierbachtol said. "I believe she has the talent and confidence to become one of the top competitors in Conference USA. I am looking forward to seeing her grow this season."

She finished her freshman season by nearly missing the top eight in both the one- and three-meter events at the conference championships, while suffering a near miss for qualifying for NCAA Zones. Hannum is a young diver, but will show some promise and could be a solid diver for the Herd.

"This will be Rachel Hannum's first year competing for our team. She learned a great deal over the summer and became stronger on the board. Our dual- and tri-meets will be great experience for her and I see her becoming even stronger by our Conference meet."