The MAC and the Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center are prepared to host the 64th annual Middle Atlantic Conference swimming championships February 11-13 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. In 2010, Lycoming won the women’s competition and Widener captured the men’s championship. For the Pride, it was their fifth straight and for the Warriors, their first since 1997. This year Widener may have their biggest challenge in years as Albright and Misericordia seem poised to give them a run. For Lycoming women to repeat, they will have to fend off the Cougars, Pride, and Lions. Widener’s women may have the best team since they last won the conference in 1994. Leading the way for the Pride is FY Laura Harris who is seeded first in six events. Another Widener FY, Colleen Tighe is seeded first in the 1650 and may make a mark in other distance events with teammate Kelsey Lake, the top seed in the 500. Another newcomer, Elizabethtown’s Abby Mitchell, is top seed in the 200 Butterfly. Two upper class women are also likely to show well. Lycoming senior Stacy Flick is the top seed in the 200 and 100 Breast, and Aimee Snyder, an Albright junior, is the top seed in the 400 IM. The men have several returning studs. Senior Jeff Clark from Misericordia is the top seed in the 100 and 200 Breast and 200 IM. He set MAC championship records in the two Breaststroke events last year. His teammate, senior Greg Vossler is the top seed in the 50 Free. Albright has two returning Eavenson (swimmer of the meet) Award winners. 2008 award winner Eric Kramer (Senior) is the favorite in the 1650, 500, and 200 Free; his teammate, Chris Sheerer, another senior, won the award in 2009 and 2010 and is a conference record holder in the 200 Back and 200 IM. Albright’s Adam Kurtz, a sophomore, is the top seed in the 100 Butterfly. As usual, Widener has several strong entries. Newcomer Michael Cawley is top seed in the 100 Back. Returnees Charles Schindler, junior top seed in the 400 IM, Jesse Bregman, senior top seed and 2010 winner of the 100 Free, and Michael Roth, sophomore top seed in the 200 Butterfly, will score lots of points to help the Pride retain their championship ways. The preliminary round starts at Noon on Friday.