Dec. 13, 2000
This Week --
Two weeks after the competitive Texas Invitational, ASU's men's swimming and women's swimming and diving teams get back into action at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center on the ASU campus in Tempe, Saturday, Dec. 16, at noon. The 12th-ranked men will meet Pac-10 rival Washington (swimming only), while the No. 16 women go head-to-head with both Washington (swimming only) and No. 20 Northwestern.
The Polls --
The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) releases national rankings on a bi-weekly basis. ASU's above rankings of 12th for the men and 16th for the women are based upon the most recent Nov. 30 poll. Two days before the meet, Dec. 14, a new set of rankings will be released. Check www.cscaa.org for the update.
This Weekend's Opponents . . .
Washington (Men 5-2/Women 3-4) --
Neither the Washington men or women have cracked into the top-25 this season, but recent performances clearly demonstrate that both Husky teams are putting together fine seasons ... In their most recent competition at the Husky Invitational (Dec. 1-3), Washington's swimming teams combined to break eight school records. While swimming to nine individual titles, sophomore sprint-free specialist Kim Harada set three records, finishing the 50 free in 23.23, the 100 free in 50.60 and the 200 free in 1:49.04. Her time in the 200 snapped Washington's oldest women's record, dating back to Nancy Gillingham's time of 1:49.98 in 1984 ... Records were snapped on the men's side by seniors Jamie Stone and Francis Tam. Stone swam a school-best 45.60 in the 100 free, while Tam earned record-honors in the 200 IM in 1:49.57. Stone was also a member of the 200 free and 400 medley teams, which also set school records ... both the men's and women's teams are coached by Mickey Wender (3rd season).
Last Time vs. Washington (12/18/99) --
In the Sun Devils' final competition of the millennium, ASU's 12th-ranked men and 18th-ranked women swam to a pair of victories 184-78 and 168.5-93.5, respectively. The men took 12 of the 14 events, getting wins from Anders Lyrbring in the 100 free (45.08) and 200 free (1:39.21). The women were led by Lauren Morelli and Riley Mants. Morelli won both backstroke events with a time of 56.90 for the 100 and 2:05.18 for the 200. Mants swam 1:04.68 and 2:19.10 to take the 100 and 200 breast, respectively.
Northwestern (Women 0-2) --
The 20th-ranked Wildcat women of Northwestern will look for their first dual victory of the season against ASU and Washington ... Northwestern comes off a second-place finish at the Northwestern Invitational, in which it lost to No. 2 UCLA, but defeated unranked South Carolina and Ohio State. Among the Wildcats' six first-place finishes was a pair of victories by freshman Katie Simmons. Simmons took the 100 breast in 1:04.59 and the 200 breast in 2:18.10 ... the Wildcats are coached by Jimmy Tierney (7th season).
Last Time vs. Northwestern (11/19-21/99) --
Ranked 21st, the Sun Devil women raced to a team title at the Northwestern Invitational. With 778 points, No. 10 Northwestern finished runner-up to ASU's victorious 832.5 points. Sarah Baham was victorious in both the 100 and 200 fly.
Most Recent Results . . .
The Texas Invitational --
Competing against a 12-team field that included six other top-25 teams, the ASU men finished eighth while the women finished 11th in their 13-team field that included eight other ranked teams ... The Sun Devil men combined to turn in their fastest times of the season in 14 different events ... The Sun Devil women accomplished the same in 12 events ... The best individual finish for either Sun Devil team was turned in by senior Scott VonSchoff, who earned first-place in the 200 free with a personal-record time of 1:36.75 ... Including VonSchoff's 200 time, ASU now has five swimmers with NCAA `B'-Qualifying times (also Baham, Hinks, Mants, Morelli).
Stand-Out Sun Devils . . .
Scott VonSchoff --
Senior All-American Scott VonSchoff has had the Midas touch this season. In each of ASU's three dual meets this season, VonSchoff competed in two individual events and one relay. And each and every time, he came away victorious. Individually in dual meet action, the freestyle specialist has won once at 50 yards (20.97 vs. UCSB), twice at 100 yards (45.26 vs. UNLV, 45.13 vs. USC), twice at 200 yards (1:38.53 vs. UNLV, 1:39.20 vs. USC) and once at 500 yards (4:37.90 vs. UCSB). He's also anchored one victorious 200 (vs. UNLV) and two victorious 400 free relay teams (vs. USC, UCSB). VonSchoff's winning ways continued at the Sun Devils' most recent meet, the Texas Invitational. Racing against some of collegiate swimming's elite, VonSchoff won the 200 free in a personal-record and NCAA `B'-Qualifying time of 1:36.75. He also placed fourth in the 100 free with a time of 44.18, and turned in the Sun Devils' fastest 50 free time of the season at 20.84.
Sarah Baham --
Junior All-American Sarah Baham, ASU's Madame Butterfly with school records in both the 100 and 200, has done some things this season that you would expect and some that you might not. In the fly she has been nothing short of spectacular, notching the Sun Devils' only NCAA `A'-Qualifying time during the second week of November when she swam 1:58.80 for the 200. In the 100, she's been nearly as impressive, posting a season-best of 54.70 -- less than two-tenths short of an NCAA `A' time. But she's also branched out to help the Sun Devils in other events. At the Texas Invitational, Baham swam her first 400 IM of the season and posted ASU's fastest time of the year in that event. Finishing in 4:24.49, Baham took 15th-place.
Otto Hinks --
Senior All-American Otto Hinks swam to an NCAA `B' time at the Texas Invitational. ASU's school record-holder in the event (54.46), Hinks swam the 100 breast in 55.61 and placed third. Hinks' also picked up an 11th-place finish in the 200 breast with a time of 2:03.59, his best time of the season in that event.
Riley Mants --
Junior All-American Riley Mants is just six-tenths of a second short of having two NCAA `B' times this year. While her 2:16.71 in the 200 breast already qualifies for `B' consideration, her 1:04.77 in the 100 breast is just shy of the 1:04.19 `B' standard.
Lauren Morelli --
Senior All-American Lauren Morelli, who is first on ASU's all-time 100 back list (55.59) and second on the 200 back list (1:59.16), turned in her first NCAA `B' time of the season with a 2:01.23 in the 200 back at the Texas Invitational.