Oct. 2, 2009

Strong Start To Season
The Florida State women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams started the 2009-2010 season strong against Florida Atlantic University. The women’s team defeated FAU 175-100. The men’s team defeated the Owls 174-101.

The women’s team won 10 out of 15 events, while the men’s team claimed victories in 12 of 15 events. In addition to the teams’ first place finishes, FSU claimed the top three spots in every diving event at today’s meet.

C.J. Hendry, Stephanie Sarandos and Shanda Casella led the way for the women’s side with two victories each. Hendry swept the butterfly events with victories in the 100 fly (56.08) and the 200 fly (2:04.08). Sarandos swept the backstroke events with first place finishes in the 100 back (56.93) and the 200 back (2:02.23). Casella was victorious in the 50 free (23.77) and the 100 free (52.01).

Pink `Noles Power Past FIU

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida State women's swimming and diving team continued to excel in their second meet of the season against Florida International University, finishing with the fastest times and highest scores in every event.

Katherine Adham, Shanda Casella and Caroline Smith led the Seminoles with two individual victories each. Adham earned the highest points in the 1M dive (316.50) and the 3M dive (325.50). Casella earned victories in the 50 free (23.74) and the 100 free (52.11). Smith finished first in the 200 free (1:53.36) and the 500 free (4:59.41).

In addition to the competition against FIU, the entire FSU Swimming and Diving Team spent the day raising money for breast cancer awareness and research. The team's swimmers and divers donned pink swim caps for the meet to show their support for breast cancer awareness. Donations were accepted with 75% of all proceeds going to the Tallahassee Memorial Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center and 25% to the Kay Yow Foundation.

Clemson Swimming and Diving Takes Down Davidson

DAVIDSON, NC - Christopher Ip and the Clemson men's and women's swimming and diving teams defeated the Davidson Wildcats Saturday in Cannon Natatorium. The men took a 183-92 victory and the women won 177-123. The win gives the Tigers a 1-0 start to the season while Davidson fell to 0-1.

This win gave the men a 15-14 edge overall in the series and the women remained undefeated at 8-0 all-time against Davidson.

The Tiger men started their day off strong by taking the top three finishes in the 200 yard medley relay. The group of freshmen Andrew Abeysinghe and sophomores Chris Dart, Derek Barre and Myles Oliver took first in the event with a 1:35.34 mark.

Georgia Tech Swimming & Diving Fares Well At Season-Opening Quad Meet

ATLANTA - The Georgia Tech swimming and diving teams picked up four wins in the season-opening Fall Quad Meet Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. The men's team beat Florida Atlantic, 178-121, while falling to Alabama, 190.5-100.5. The women's team, meanwhile, knocked off Georgia Southern (238-50), FAU (231-67) and Florida Gulf Coast (167-133). They lost to Alabama by a score of 187-113.

The first event was the 200-medley relay and both Tech teams turned in solid finishes. The women's team of Heidi Hatteberg, April Dickerson, Jordan Evans and Agatha Kwasnik placed second with a time of 1:47.14. On the men's side, Ilia Ayzenshtok, Jeremy Jackson, Travis Wagner and Jeffrey Phillips were third as they touched the walll in 1:33.51.

The women's 1,000-free saw Jing Li finish fourth in a time of 10:34.72, while Alexis Weber (1:54.11) and Taylor Flynn (1:54.21) finished fourth and fifth in the 200-free. In the men's 200-free, Matt Tang secured a fourth place finish with his mark of 1:42.86.