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Team leader Brett Clark gets a little help this season, and the Pirates have a legitimate shot at a SAC title in their second year.
By STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 19, 2001
DADE CITY -- Brett Clark almost single-handedly carried the Pasco boys swim team to victories last season in six dual meets and second place in the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet.
This year, in the team's second season, Clark has a little help, and coach Russ Rosenbauer thinks his young team has a shot at the SAC title Oct. 26-27 at the New Port Richey pool.
Clark established school records in 13 events last season and has bettered his marks this season in three: the 50-yard freestyle (23.65 seconds), 100 free (53.90) and 100 butterfly (59.26).
His help at the SAC meet comes from Ross Coscia, Michael Bates, Colt Pennington and Davy Johnson, who have contributed to two other school record.
Coscia set a record in the 50 backstroke (a 30.87 split in the 200 medley relay). Bates, Pennington and Johnson teamed with Clark for a record in the 200 free relay (1:44.47).
"We're much better than last year and we've got a lot more guys," said Clark, noting the team's roster has increased from 10 last season to 15.
"Everybody's gotten faster," Rosenbauer said. "We haven't even started to get good, in my opinion."
Clark and Johnson, both juniors, and Coscia, a sophomore, are the key returners Rosenbauer was counting on. Bates and Jason Epperson have provided depth.
While Johnson primarily is a freestyle sprinter, Rosenbauer has entered Clark and Coscia in various events.
"(Clark) and Ross, I usually put up against the other team's best people," Rosenbauer said. "Both have the ability to go in any event, which is something not everybody else has the ability to do."
Aside from being the Pirates' fastest swimmers, Rosenbauer looks to Clark and Coscia for leadership.
"First of all, they compete with each other and that creates competition among the other guys," Rosenbauer said. "And they're hard workers. They show their teammates that hard work in practice pays off in the meets."
Bates, a senior, is a newcomer whom Rosenbauer wishes had more eligibility. Bates lowered his time in the 100 breast stroke from the 1:14s to the 1:09 range since he came out for the team in August.
"He had power from the beginning and he's learned how to do the strokes better," Rosenbauer said. "He's picking up the technique things very quickly."
Epperson, a sophomore, has excelled in the 200 free and 500 free as well as contributing to the free relay teams.
"Jason's just starting to realize his ability," Rosenbauer said. "He realizes he can be fast."
Senior Grant LaFever, who dives and swims on the relay teams, and junior Mark Hudson also have earned points for Pasco.