BY Press & Sun-Bulletin

For the last few boys swimming seasons, the Southern Tier Athletic Conference has been largely devoid of team drama.

With little hesitation, you could pencil in Vestal to win the Metro Division, Owego to win the Central Division and Chenango Forks to win the East Division.

But while things shouldn't change with Vestal and Forks this season -- both should have little trouble defending their division crowns -- the Central Division race could be wide open this season.

Owego won't go quietly, but with the task of replacing 11 seniors from last season's Central Division and Section 4 Class B championship team, the Indians can expect challenges from Johnson City and Maine-Endwell for the Central Division title and JC, M-E and Forks for the Class B title.

"We lost some really good swimmers," Owego coach Jason Westervelt said. "We're still pretty strong, we're not going to be as powerful as last year. Some teams are going to give us a run for our money."

Among those back for Owego, five-time defending Section 4 Class B champion, are seniors Josh Malia (200-yard individual medley, 500 freestyle) and Gene Nolis (200 free, 100 backstroke), as well as junior Gage Williams (freestyler) and sophomores Taylor Stewart (100 butterfly, 200 free), Luke Jackson (100 breaststroke) and Anthony Thomas (freestyle sprinter).

M-E returns seniors Peter Hoover (backstroke, freestyle events), Greg Cleveland (freestyle, backstroke), and Josh Galusha (distance events), as well as a trio of strong juniors: Josh Szeczpanski (200 IM, backstroke), Brad Glover (200 free) and Adam Rosenbarker (butterfly). Sophomore Nate Duval (freestyle sprinter), a key member of the Spartans last season, is also back. Freshmen A.J. Vitanza and Cody Galusha have shown good signs in the preseason.

JC features standouts Ryan Bunts (butterfly) and Josh Holowinski (diving), Section 4 title contenders in their respective events, along with freestyler Sam Kolb and distance swimmer Jeff Martinez.

Bunts and Martinez are part of a talented group of juniors that also includes Andy Bezek, Adam Nesbitt and Matt Burns.

"I think we have a pretty strong group," JC coach Chris Verity said. "The way our juniors go will determine how solid we are."

Oneonta has backstroker Alex Miller returning, as well as fellow juniors Kurtis Moffett (distance freestyler) and Zan Relethford (sprinter, backstroke). Senior Austin McCaslin-Doyle (sprinter) should provide leadership, and sophomores Josh Moss (butterfly), Nick DiBartolomeo (distance events) and Brad Wilson (distance events) provide hope for the future.

First-year Norwich coach Jon Aikins inherits a team with nine returnees, including juniors Dan Wenzel (distance events), Ryan Cambron (breaststroke, backstroke) and freshman Talon Schroeder (distance events).

Noah Revior is the Purple Tornado's top diver. Nick Follett, Trey Ostrom and Jared Kirkland provide depth.

Metro Division

Some may have thought Vestal might have ripe for the taking last season after having to replace 15 seniors from its 2005-06 team.

Not quite. The Golden Bears had little trouble winning their fourth straight Section 4 Class A title last season and a fifth title is very likely this season.

Seniors Tyler Hopf (breaststroke, 200 IM), Nick Dupree (freestyle sprinter), Shawn and Mike Danek (divers), Mike Tingey (backstroke, freestyler sprinter), Jeremy Borrelli (100 butterfly, 200 free) and J.P. Caudrilier (freestyle sprinter), are all back. Junior Sam Gaynes (100 butterfly, 200 IM) is another prominent returner.

Junior Dan MacQuarrie could emerge as another impact swimmer for Vestal, which has 41 swimmers/divers on its roster.

"We have a good group of guys," Vestal coach Joe Shore said. "I though we had one of the best years last year, not because we won the Class A title, but because everybody dropped (times) significantly.

"The best chance we have of continuing to win is to have our guys keep improving."

Binghamton appears in line for a runner-up finish in the Metro Division, the Patriots returning a solid group of competitors.

Seniors Nate Schaum (breaststroke) and Chris VanWoert (freestyle sprinter) are back, as are juniors Brian Hampton (distance freestyler, IMer) Erik Wagner (freestyle sprinter) and Dan Birch (backstroke).

Coach Dan Zembek is also high on a group of freshmen that includes Alex Cline, Jake Schaum and Alexander King.

U-E and Ithaca appear to be in rebuilding mode.

The Tigers feature Pat Szelkowski, who will swim the 200 IM and 100 butterfly.

Ithaca has nary a swimmer with varsity experience. Little Red coach Roy Staley believes sophomore Dan Miller and freshman John Nord are up-and-comers who have versatility.

East Division

Chenango Forks has a new coach with Dan Kozlowski taking over for John Hillis, but the Blue Devils still carry the same high expectations.

That's in large part because of the quartet of Steven Kwartler, Stephen Edwards, Max Ginty and Dan Maximowicz. Kwartler is one of the top all-around swimmers in Section 4 and Edwards (100 butterfly, 200 IM), Ginty (diving, relay swimmer) and Maximowicz (distance freestyler, 100 backstroke) are front-line talents as well.

Also expected to contribute greatly for Forks are Tyler Serva (backstroke), Tim Kane (breaststroke), Jake Mills (freestyler), and Dan Kermidas (butterflyer).

"My ultimate goal is to get kids to the state meet," Kozlowski said. "I don't worry as much about wins and losses."

While not likely to challenge Forks for the East Division title, Chenango Valley should have little trouble finishing second.

The Warriors have a young team with just three seniors, including two standouts Jeff Swartout (breaststroke, 200 IM, butterfly) and Mike Biviano (diving). Allen Chapman and Dan Giblin, both sophomores, should enjoy their share of success also.

Windsor will count on seniors Kyle Krause (distance freestyler), Chris Haswell (distance freestyler), Taylor Williams (sprint freestyler) and Connor Bennett (sprint freestyler). Juniors Alex Vaughn (50 free, 100 breaststroke) and Robert Colwell (100 backstroke), sophomores Matt Behn (200 IM, 100 butterfly) and Jeremiah Settinger (100 backstroke, diving), and freshman Nick Shay (distance freestyler) are other key performers for the Black Knights.

SV's first-year program will feature just nine kids, none with varsity experience. The Sabers are looking for good things from freshmen Derek Linebaugh, Steve Hoskins and Josh Rogers.

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