Jan. 31, 2009

Duke Closes Out Regular Season With Split Versus Clemson
In the Duke swimming & diving squads’ final home meet and regular-season contest of the 2008-09 campaign, the Blue Devil men’s team defeated Clemson by a score of 150.5-147.5 while the women fell 159-141 in what came down to the final two events against the ACC rivals Saturday afternoon at the Taishoff Aquatic Pavilion.

The men close out the season 6-3 (2-3 ACC), while the women end 7-4 (3-3) for the year.

The men’s victory gave Duke a chance to avenge its recent loss, as both teams fell to North Carolina last night in Chapel Hill. The win was the Blue Devils’ first over the Tigers since 1979 on the men’s side, with Duke winning a total of 18 events out of 32 on the day.

Prior to today’s meet, the Blue Devils honored the program’s nine seniors – Jordan Charles, Justin Mullen, Ryan Packer, Nick Schilling, Andy Ward, Katie Bieze, Lauren Gonzalez, Emily Kelly, and Megan Toney – for their accomplishments during their time in a Duke uniform.

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H2Okies sweep Panthers
The Virginia Tech men and women’s swimming and diving teams each captured victories this afternoon over Pittsburgh. The H2Okie men, who hold a 6-1 record, posted a 183-111 win, while the 20th-ranked women registered their sixth win of the season, as well, 177.5-118.5.

The nationally-ranked women’s team compiled a total of 11 individual wins on the afternoon and the men captured 13, for a team total of 24 wins in all.

On the women’s side senior Megan Newell, sophomore Lauren Haley and freshman Erika Hajnal each scored two wins for the H2Okies. Newell, who swam in her final regular-season meet for Tech, registered wins in the 100 free and 200 fly with times of 52.27 and 2:04.67, respectively. Haley added wins in the 100 and 200 back events. The sophomore swam 100 back in 57.15, while finishing the 200 in 2:02.62.

Terps Women Swimming and Diving Drops West Virginia
The Maryland women's swimming and diving team defeated West Virginia, 134-103, Saturday afternoon in Morgantown. The men's squad fell to the Mountaineers, 147-84.

The women picked up its tenth win of the year with the help of several quality performances. Winning races for Terps was Laura Wright (200 IM - 2:09.47), Jen Vogel (100 fly - 56.26), Alisa Kurbatova (3-meter diving - 250.35), Alexa Hamilton (100 breast - 1:05.39) and the combo of Yelena Skalinskaya, Annie Fittin, Ginny Glover and Jackie Davidson in the 200 free relay.

The men also had a solid day, despite the outcome. Andy Dilz continued to thrive in the freestyle, winning the 50 (20.91) and 100 free (46.63). Fellow senior Eric Cullen put together another fine performance in the 100 breast, winning the event (57.32). Chris Rouchard claimed a pair of second-place finishes in the 500 (4:44.04) and 1000 free (9:47.95). Freshmen Stuart Butts and Sean Stewart came in second and third in the 200 free, respectively. The men's 200 free relay comprised of Mitch Challacombe, John Closs, Ryan Greene and Stuart Butts was also victorious.

Georgia Tech Takes Down Emory On Senior Day
The Georgia Tech swimming and diving teams concluded the regular season with a win over Emory on Senior Day Saturday at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. The men's team (7-2 overall) won by a 164-121 score, while the women (6-6) were 160-129 winners.

Christine Chuang, Brittany Gobat and Heidi Hatteberg each won two events apiece for the Yellow Jackets who will now focus their attention on the ACC Championships in a couple of weeks. Diver Hannah Krimm recorded a career-high 348.97 points on the three-meter platform, the fourth-best in the ACC this season and just three points shy of a school record. She was also victorious in the one-meter event, finishing with 292.80 points. Jacob Tzegaegbe won the three-meter event on the men's side, recording a career-high 329.77 points. David Springfels was right behind with a career-best 325.72. The duo also led the way in the one-meter event scoring 308.70 and 300.37 points, respectively.

Georgia Tech began the meet by sweeping both the men's and women's 200 medley relay. The men's team of Johnny Hagaman, Jeremy Jackson, Noah Copeland and Gal Nevo won in a time of 1:32.62, while the women's team consisting of Heidi Hatteberg, Lisa Pucci, Christine Chuang and Agatha Kwasnik finished first in a time of 1:47.06.

Boston College has strong showing against Maine, URI, and Dartmouth
The Boston College Swimming and Diving team completed a two-day meet with Maine, Rhode Island, and Dartmouth this afternoon at the Flynn Recreation Complex Pool. The men's team defeated all three visiting teams, while the women's team picked up victories against Rhode Island and Maine.

Caroline Byron headlined the meet for the Eagles, passing RoseMary DeLeo for first place on the all-time dual meet victories list. Byron picked up victories in the 50 yard freestyle (24.89) and the 100 yard freestyle (53.58), and swam on BC's winning 200 and 800 meter freestyle relay teams.

Also picking up wins on the women's team were Katie Fritsch in 100 yard backstroke (1:00.93) and Michaela Morr in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:09.46).

On the men's side, John Maloy had the best meet of any individual swimmer, picking up victories in the 400 yard individual medley (4:09.02), the 500 yard freestyle (4:45.66), and the 1650 yard freestyle (9:49.04).

January 30, 2009

Tar Heels Triumph Over Blue Devils on Senior Night
The University of North Carolina men's and women's swimming and diving teams swam to two wins versus Duke Friday night in front of a Maurice J.Koury record crowd for a collegiate meet at the facility of 1,220 people. The women won 14 of 16 events with a final score of 169-123 in favor of Coach Rich DeSelm's Tar Heels. The men won 15 of 16 events with a final score of 182-101.

On Senior Night at Koury Natatorium the teams were treated to a massive crowd that stood two and three deep in some places behind the final row of seats in the gallery. The only bigger crowd to attend an event in Koury came at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival competition when hundreds of seats were sold on deck space to accomodate the crowds.

Each meet was worth one point in the 2008-09 Carlyle Cup standings. The Carlyle Cup is an all-sports competition between North Carolina and Duke each year in 24 different varsity sports, sponsored by Carlyle and Company. With their two wins tonight, Carolina now leads this year's race 8.5-2.5 points.

The Tar Heels posted 36 season bests on the men's side, including 17 career bests, while the women had 23 season bests, including seven career bests.

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