April 4, 2007

NEWARK, NJ - "Not bad for a baseball player?" were Alan Roberts' first words after he finished his race. He was speaking to Jay Carpenter, the winner of the men's 100-yard breaststroke at the recent Metropolitan Swimming Conference Championships held at Rutgers University earlier this spring. Roberts had just taken the silver medal and recorded the best "big meet" finish of his career. But swimming is only half of his story.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology freshman wears two hats for the Highlanders. In addition to his stellar performances in the swimming pool, he is an outfielder for the NJIT baseball team.

"An exceptional freshman year" responds Highlander swimming coach Eric Rasmussen when asked for an evaluation of his newest star. "Alan will provide a great deal of help to the program as we move up to NCAA Division I competition."

Rasmussen's reference is to the university's reclassification efforts to move from NCAA Division II to Division I. It is a major endeavor that will allow NJIT to compete at a higher level and gain greater recognition for the university. Rasmussen sees Roberts playing an important role in the future efforts of his swimming team.

Although the rest of the swimmers began their training in September, it was mid-October when Roberts made his debut. Participation in fall baseball prevented him from getting into the water until the Highlanders were just days away from the first meet of the season. Despite the late start, Alan Roberts, who predominantly swims breaststroke and freestyle, recorded some good early season times through October and November.

The former high school All-American's first breakthrough came in a December meet in Buffalo. Facing his toughest competition of the early season, Roberts lost the 100-yard breaststroke by a few hundredths of a second to Kevin O'Donnell of Canisius. Despite the loss, there was reason for joy. Roberts's time of 1:01.19, although slower than his lifetime personal best, broke the existing school record and marked his entry into the NJIT record book.

With two more months to train before the season-ending conference championship meet, Roberts set his sites on bigger goals. He wanted a lifetime-best time in the 100 yard breaststroke and he wanted to do it at a big meet.

The Metropolitan Swimming Conference hosts a highly competitive championship meet each February at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The meet is comprised of mostly Division II and III teams; NJIT was the lone Division I team in this year's meet. With over 500 male and female competitors and some very fast times, the championships make for an exciting weekend of swimming. Roberts was confident that the excitement of a big meet would inspire him and push him to his goal.

While Roberts scored individual points for the Highlanders with appearances in the bonus finals of both the 50 and 100-yard freestyle races, he saved his best for his premier event, the 100-yard breaststroke. In the morning qualifying heats he swam a strong race, clocking a lifetime best of: 58.02 and further lowering his school record. His time was the second-fastest of the morning which entitled him to one of the coveted center lanes in the evening's championship final.

Taking the pace out just slightly slower in the first 50 yards of the finals, Roberts out split everyone else in the field over the second 50 yards. Carpenter, the eventual winner was able to hold off the fast- closing Roberts at the wall by a slight .31 second advantage. Roberts' time of :57.43 marked another school record and another drop in the personal best category. His silver medal also marked the highest championship finish ever by a Highlander swimmer.

In addition to his individual success, Roberts was a key contributor to the Highlanders relay efforts. Joining teammates Hayk Ekshian, Marc Ubaldi and Rob Franc on four events, Roberts helped to establish a new school relay record each time they hit the water. The foursome broke school records a total of eight times; setting new standards in the 200 and 400-yard medley relays and the 200 and 400- yard freestyle relays in both the qualifying heats and the finals of each event.

By the close of the meet, Roberts had a hand in five school records and owned a time in the 100-yard breaststroke that entitled him to compete at the next level of competition. His time qualified him for the USA Swimming Sectional Meet series; these competitions are held around the country and are a stepping stone to the Senior National meet. Even more impressive was his qualification for the USA Swimming-sponsored NCSA Junior National Championships. This meet features the best 19-year old and under swimmers in the country all attending one championship meet in Florida.

But the spring was approaching and baseball was calling. And while a few of his swimming teammates tested their skills at one of the sectional meets, Roberts was with his other teammates, taking batting practice, catching fly balls and running bases. And, somewhere in the back of his mind, thinking about the possibilities of swimming even faster in the 100-yard breaststroke.