Jan. 6, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Full Slate of Swimming and Diving at Mona Plummer Center
A frantic four-day stretch of swimming and diving action will commence on Friday, Jan. 7 when the 12th-ranked Arizona State men's team hosts #10 Michigan at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at 1:00 p.m. At 9:00 a.m. the following morning, the 18th-ranked ASU women and selected men's swimmers will participate in the Sun Devil Invitational against the men's and women's teams from Virginia Tech and Wyoming. Saturday at 1:00 p.m. the Sun Devil men have their second tough dual meet in as many days when #11 Tennessee visits the Mona Plummer Center. The Sun Devil divers will also have a busy week, participating in the prestigious All-American Diving Invitational in Austin, Texas Jan. 5-9 before returning home to host their own invitational Monday, Jan. 10 beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Note the Format
Both men's dual meets as well as the Sun Devil Invitational will be contested in short-course yards. Meets throughout the 1999-2000 season will use either the aforementioned format, short-course meters or long-course meters. The NCAA Championships this season are being held in a 25-meter pool, while the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia will utilize a 50-meter format.
Devils Tame Huskies in Pac-10 Dual Meet Action
The ASU men and women faced little resistance in a dual meet against Pac-10 foe Washington on Dec. 18 at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, swimming to easy victories over the Huskies. On the men's side, Arizona State (2-1) prevailed 184-78, touching the wall first in 12 of the 14 events staged. Among the double winners were freshman Anders Lyrbring in the 100 and 200-yard freestyle and junior Adam Guzauskas in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. The Devils (3-1) took top honors in 10 women's races, winning 168.5-93.5. Junior Lauren Morelli and sophomore Riley Mants swept the back and breast events, respectively, while senior Casey Murphy notched wins in 500 and 1000 free competition.
Schedule Addition
The Sun Devil men will participate in the Dallas Morning News Invitational, hosted by Southern Methodist, Jan. 14-15. ASU will send eight of its top swimmers and one diver to the meet, which will feature #14 Texas A&M, #19 LSU and the host Mustangs in addition to two other schools. Arizona State and and SMU met in November at the Northwestern Invitational, where the Devils placed first and the 15th-ranked Mustangs took second.
Welcome Aboard
Freshman Claire Hedenskog, a native of Lyndome, Sweeden, has joined the ASU women's swimming team and will make her debut during Saturday's invitational. Hedenskog, a sprint freestyler, has participated in the past four Swedish Senior Nationals, winning the 400 free relay as a member of the Gothenberg Swim Club in 1998.
Head Coach Michael Chasson
Currently in his second season at ASU, Michael Chasson is the first head coach in school history to oversee both the men's and women's swim programs. In 1999, he guided Sun Devil men to a 16th place national showing, while the women finished 23rd at the NCAA Championships.