RSSTwo swimmers take deal, several charges dropped
By Caitlin Kingsley
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: News
Several charges were dropped against two members of the swim team, Darren Podolak, '09, and Mac Tichner, '09, at a hearing on Nov. 19.
The two men were accused of hosting a party with underage drinking at their home on Taylor Street on Sept. 12.
According to sources on the team, Podolak is still on the swim team, and Tichner's punishment is still pending. It is uncertain if he remains on the team because he is not listed on the team roster. Podolak and Tichner were unavailable for comment.
According to a Nov. 20 article in The Morning Call, Podolak and Tichner waived their right to a preliminary hearing on charges of underage drinking and conspiracy to sell or furnish alcohol to minors.
The prosecutor dismissed charges of corruption of minors, reckless endangerment of a minor and violations of two city ordinances, including having a disorderly house.
The article said Podolak and Tichner will apply for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, a program for first-time nonviolent offenders that allows defendants to clear their records after completing a probationary period.
Swim team Head Coach Rob Herb said in an e-mail he knows the men will deal with the consequences of their mistakes, and they are committed to the process.
"They continue to do what they can to be members of good standing on the team, in the athletic department and as well as the university," Herb said. "It is important that we all learn from the mistakes of others to improve our experience at Lehigh and within the Bethlehem community."
Herb said he knows the men are good people who just made a bad choice.
"I know they will move forward and use their experience to make themselves stronger," Herb said.
Lehigh's Web site included an anonymous statement from team members.
"We made a mistake," the post read. "A huge mistake. We are going to use this as fuel to make us stronger. We are using it as a reason to train harder, a reason to become closer and a reason for all of us to step up and act as leaders."
The two men were accused of hosting a party with underage drinking at their home on Taylor Street on Sept. 12.
According to sources on the team, Podolak is still on the swim team, and Tichner's punishment is still pending. It is uncertain if he remains on the team because he is not listed on the team roster. Podolak and Tichner were unavailable for comment.
According to a Nov. 20 article in The Morning Call, Podolak and Tichner waived their right to a preliminary hearing on charges of underage drinking and conspiracy to sell or furnish alcohol to minors.
The prosecutor dismissed charges of corruption of minors, reckless endangerment of a minor and violations of two city ordinances, including having a disorderly house.
The article said Podolak and Tichner will apply for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, a program for first-time nonviolent offenders that allows defendants to clear their records after completing a probationary period.
Swim team Head Coach Rob Herb said in an e-mail he knows the men will deal with the consequences of their mistakes, and they are committed to the process.
"They continue to do what they can to be members of good standing on the team, in the athletic department and as well as the university," Herb said. "It is important that we all learn from the mistakes of others to improve our experience at Lehigh and within the Bethlehem community."
Herb said he knows the men are good people who just made a bad choice.
"I know they will move forward and use their experience to make themselves stronger," Herb said.
Lehigh's Web site included an anonymous statement from team members.
"We made a mistake," the post read. "A huge mistake. We are going to use this as fuel to make us stronger. We are using it as a reason to train harder, a reason to become closer and a reason for all of us to step up and act as leaders."
