In reflecting back on Rensselaer's recently completed athletic season, it quickly becomes obvious that there were – yet again – many memorable individual and team accomplishments, as well as other significant events that occurred. In an effort to relive, remember and celebrate some of our student-athletes and staff members who played major roles in making those occasions a reality, we introduce 11 4 2010-11.
The story below is one in the 11-part series, which will run throughout the next couple of months. The events are not ranked in any particular order. For the full list, along with some 'honorable mentions', eventually, please click HERE.
Are there significant events you remember? You can submit them by clicking HERE. Thank you and enjoy!
Men's Swimming & Diving Claims Fifth Liberty League Title
Traditionally one of the best squads in the Liberty League, the Rensselaer men's swimming & diving team headed into the 2010 conference championships with one goal in mind ... to claim their fifth title in program history.
Normally a tight battle at the top, December's meet proved to be no less dramatic as just 13 points separated the top three squads after day one. The Engineers found themselves in the third spot, but for head coach Shannon O'Brien, there wasn't any concern.
"I thought we were in a very good spot," she explained. "Friday we didn't have a lot of swims compared to Saturday's sessions. The points we did pick up on day one between the 3-meter diving event and the relay victories were huge."
The dawn of a new day and Session II had RPI quickly gaining ground as they moved past the University of Rochester and into second place. With just one session remaining that evening, the Engineers trailed the leader and host team, Union College, by 38.5 points.
"Session II saw our true strength, which is out strokes," said O'Brien. "I think we had a very good showing in our events."
Heralding the charge for RPI was freshman diver
Miguel Hummel, who claimed victory off the 1-meter board, sparking a combined 76-point effort by the dive team of five.
"We had a good idea going into the meet that the divers would end up scoring significant points," O'Brien explained. "We have a very good diving team, but in order for things to work out, we needed to take care of business on the swimming end."
The final session of the 2010 meet saw the Engineers do just that. Behind strong performances in multiple races, RPI surged into the lead for good.
One of the most thrilling and key victories came in the 200-breaststroke as senior
Julian Schott claimed the win and four others finished in the top seven. As a group, the six Rensselaer swimmers pulled in 81 points.
"That race was a huge factor," explained O'Brien. "Not only did we score a lot of points, but I think it really fired the men's team up heading into the final events."
Schott sealed the Engineers fifth title as he anchored the 400-freestyle relay 'A' team to the win and a 40-point advantage. The 'B' relay squad also captured valuable points (12), powered by senior anchor
Brandon McDowell.
"The 400 relay teams were probably one of the biggest factors in the win," said O'Brien. "The point jump you get winning a relay compared to a second or third finish is just enough to make a difference."
Rensselaer finished with 860 points, a margin of 47.5 points ahead of Union. Post-meet honors beyond the team trophy were also handed out to Hummel, who was named the Liberty League Diver of the Year. Claiming victory off both boards, his success continued a growing tradition for RPI diving as he became the fourth Engineer in the last five year's to earn the league's top honor.
"I knew Miguel
was a good diver, but I did not realize he was going to be that good and focused at the beginning of the year," O'Brien explained. "Freshman are often difficult to get a read on, especially in their first pressure situation, but in the end his win off both boards proved to be critical to our winning the league."
While Hummel and RPI's four other divers raked in crucial points, the title was also obtained by solid efforts from the swimmers. Schott had an outstanding meet with five victories and two other finishes in the top three. In fact, O'Brien reveals that his dominance in certain events proved to be just what the team needed to keep the intensity going.
"Julian's races, especially the breaststroke events, got everyone excited," she said. "He just looked so strong and ready to swim fast, but more than that was the fact that he gained valuable points for his team by swimming in events that weren't traditionally his best."
In the end, the Engineers powered their way to their fourth conference title in the last seven years. RPI later went on to finish a solid fifth of 13 squads at the State Meet and also saw Schott garner National All-America at the NCAA Championships. Yet it all began with the come from behind effort that made them Liberty League champions.
