The Misericordia University men's and women's swim teams will compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, Friday through Sunday at the Wilkes-Barre Catholic Youth Center.

The MU women (8-3) have been in the top-two of the past four years with a victory in 2009.  They are coming off a record-breaking season and look to defend their titles in the 200 free relay, 400 medley relay and 200 medley relay.   

MU's 200 Free Relay is ranked 23rd in the nation and have won the MAC since they joined in 2007.  “We have seven women that we can put in that relay and still be competitive,” said head coach Jason Morini. 

MU is led by senior Chelsea Mixon and sophomore Brittany Luzik. Luzik was part of two record-breaking relays and she broke the school record in the 100 butterfly (1:00.28).  She is also part of the record holding 200 free relay (1:39.32) and 400 free relay (3:44.43).

Mixon is looking to end her career with a splash.  She is the leading scorer for the Cougars and is looking to continue at the championships.  She has anchored the 200 free relay and has swam the best times in the individual freestyle events for MU.

Jess Grant and Alex Taylor have played key roles for Misericordia this year in the distance events.  They have been near the top of the podium in the 1,000 and the 500 with Taylor's best times being 5:26.83 in the 500 and 11:24.40 in the 1,000.   Grant is not far behind, swimming a 5:30.25 in the 500 and an 11:29.53 in the 1,000.  

Bree Grzech is the top seed in the 100 back (59.93) and looks to add points in the 50 and 100 free. 

The Cougars finished 11 points out of top spot last year and look to improve on that this year. “It has always our goal to win MAC's,” said Morini. “We have a very good chance this year.”

MU's men are 6-3 and are looking to improve from their third place finish in last year's championship where they lost by 26 points. 

They have finished third in the last three years and are looking to defend their four relay titles from last year.

Led by junior Adam Grzech, who is coming off a record-breaking season.  He broke the Anderson pool record in the 100 back (53.55) and pool records at Messiah in the100 back (54.33) and the 100 free (49.20). 

He is part of the team that holds the school record in the 200 free relay (1:24.85) and the top seeds in the 50 (21.83) and 100 free (48.41) and the 100 back (53.06).

Top seeds were also awarded to Doug Ranson in the 100 and 200 breast and Matt Moates in the 200 back. 

The Cougars hold the top two seeds in the 50 free (Grzech and Brad Thomas) and hold three of the top four spots in the 100 free (Grzech, Thomas and Peter Kolokithias).

The Cougars were 26 points away from the title last year.  “Our guys were close last year and it left a bad taste,” said Morini. “Now they want the top spot.”

The men's 200 medley relay is the top seed and is the best chance for the Cougars to reach the NCAA Championships.  The relay is led off by Grzech in the backstroke and then Doug Ranson takes over in the breaststroke.  Eric Schollmeyer jumps in with the fly and Brad Thomas finishes it off with freestyle.  They swam a 1:36.16 at the Grove City Invitational.

Junior Vince Paone and freshman Nick Essington contributed in the distance events and look to continue at the MAC's.  Essington has been leading the distance events all year and is likely to help MU this weekend.

“We have trained better than we ever have and we have a higher level of enthusiasm,” said Morini.   “We look for that to transfer into a victory at the end of the week.”