Wren encouraged by early performances

Jeff Wren knows swimming and he also knows the measurement for a swimmer and for a team is revealed during the championship season.

And, while, Wren does not suggest that the Black Bear men or women are a New England championship team, the veteran swim trainer saw in last weekend’s NAC five-team meet Black Bear races that indicate that UMaine will churn the waters in February.

“All things considered, we had some good swims,” Wren reflected on the performances of his men and women last weekend.

In the meet, Maine’s Jen Denison won the 50 free (25.1).

Wren also received promising racing from Wendy Woodbury (500 free-5:32, 200 I.M.-2:22) and Noreen Solakoff (500 free-5:18, 200 I.M.-2:16).

Additionally, Maine’s 200 medley relay recorded a fast 1:54.7 from Julie Chandler (30.8), Bobbi Wilson (32.4), Denison (26.0) and Laura Deputy (24.0). The Black Bears finished second. Maine swam equally well in the 400 free relay (3:41.1).

“We still need to get everybody healthy and hitting the times. Natalie Zdenck’s loss due to illness is a significant one for our freestyle events,” said Wren.

However, this weekend Wren must have all team members healthy and racing if the Black Bears are going to be successful against a vastly improved Vermont team that includes Mainers Jen Emerson (5:19-500 free) and Angela Small.

“Vermont has four impact freshmen. We need to swim our strongest possible lineup and swim well if we are going to be successful,” Wren said.

Meanwhile, the Black Bear men prepare for the Catamounts following the season’s best performance to this point last weekend in the NAC meet.

“Some of the swimmers turned in personal best times, which you don’t generally expect this time of the year,” Wren said.

Among those swimmers were Todd Springer, a freshman from Old Town (56.6-100 back, 2:06-200 back), and sophomores Steve Campbell (50.1-100 free) and Nick Voikos (2:28-200 breaststroke).

Wren was particularly pleased with the 200 free relay which finished second. Bob Leonard (22.5), Jeff Small (22.4), Springer (22.4) and Bill Stone (22.2) give Wren more depth in the 50 free than any Maine team in recent years.

Add to that the talents of Aaron Rog, Derek Marshall, Brad Burnham and Sean Conroy and the Black Bears are determined to trap the Catamounts.

SPLASHES…. Maine’s freshman Jeff Small of Cape Elizabeth has a sister, Angela, on the Vermont roster…. Peter Small is sidelined with an injury depleting Maine’s butterfly crew…. Wren is very impressed with Vermont’s freshmen class of women swimmers…. One of the nation’s premier college coaches, Joe Bernal of Harvard, has resigned effective at the conclusion of the season. Bernal, who came to Harvard 14 years ago from Fordham, reportedly wants to devote time to the U.S. Olympic swimming program…. Bernal’s Harvard Crimson have been ranked among the nation’s top freestylers on several occasions.