Jan. 2, 2001
This Week --
Almost three weeks after their last competitions, Arizona State's water warriors hit the road to challenge Tennessee, Friday, Jan. 5, before moving on to the state of Alabama to face Auburn and Florida, Saturday, Jan. 6. This is ASU's last road trip before a three day homestand Jan. 19-21.
The Polls --
The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) releases national rankings on a bi-weekly basis. However, due to the winter break, ASU's above rankings of 12th for the men and 19th for the women are based upon the most recent poll, which dates back to December 14th, previous to ASU's last victories.
This Weekend's Opponents . . .
Tennessee (Men 5-0/Women 3-2) --
The undefeated Volunteer men are locked with California for the sixth spot nationally, receiving 158 votes apiece. The Vols' Michael Gilliam has the fastest collegiate time in the nation in the 100 back (47.72), fifth-fastest in the 100 free (44.01), seventh-fastest in the 50 free (20.20) and ninth-fastest in the 100 fly. ... The Lady Vols are currently unranked, yet are among those receiving votes (4) on the CSCAA poll. Pam Hanson has the nation's second-fastest collegiate time in the 200 back (1:58.18), fifth-fastest time in the 100 back (54.77), ninth-fastest in the 200 IM (2:01.56) and 13th-fastest in the 100 fly (54.87).
Last Time vs. Tennessee (1/8/00) --
Only the men competed last year when ASU hosted Tennessee at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The Vols took first-place points in eight-of-11 events to win 132-108.
Auburn (Men 1-0, Women 1-0) --
Currently ranked No. 4, the Auburn men were runner-up to a NCAA title last year. Justin Caron (2:02.74) and Dave Denniston (2:02.77) form a powerful one-two punch in the 200 breast with the 20th and 22nd-best collegiate times this year. ... The Auburn women are equally impressive this year, ranked fifth in all the land. Maggie Bowen has the third-fastest time in the 400 IM (4:14.68), sixth in the 200 IM (2:01.28), 13th in the 200 breast (2:15.70) and 25th in the 200 fly (2:01.70).
Last Time vs. Auburn (11-23-98) --
The Auburn men took 10-of-14 events to win 168-94. ASU's women lost 138-124 despite a pair of wins by Carolyn Adel in the 200 free (1:48.28) and 500 free (4:49.68).
Florida (Men 3-3, Women 6-1) --
Florida's men's and women's teams are ranked 10th nationally. Senior Ricardo Monasterio holds the second-fastest collegiate time this year in the 1000 free (9:03.91), plus the fifth-best time in the 500 free (4:24.36). ... The Gator women are stacked in the distance events, appearing eight times among the top-25 collegiate times for the 500, 1000 and 1650 free combined.
Last Time vs. Florida (11-14-97) --
The ASU women defeated Florida 182-117, while topping UCLA 180.5 - 116.5. As a sophomore, Lauren Morelli won the 100 (56.15) and 200 back (2:00.05) to lead ASU.
Most Recent ASU Results . . .
Men vs. Washington, Women vs. Washington, Northwestern --
The No. 12 ASU men took first-place points in nine-of-14 events against the Huskies, defeating the Pac-10 rival 144-118. Scott VonSchoff continued his miraculous season, grabbing a pair of individual wins while swimming his fastest times of the season in the 50 (20.75) and 500 (4:34.91) free. The men also got a lift from the return of Austin Paulsen, who took first in the 200 fly (1:52.12) and second in the 200 IM (1:52.98). The 19th-ranked women disposed of both Washington, 177-68, and No. 20 Northwestern, 139-109. Lauren Morelli swam to her first two wins of the season, taking the 100 (57.58) and 200 (2:02.40) back.
Stand-Out Sun Devils . . .
Scott VonSchoff --
Senior All-American Scott VonSchoff has had the Midas touch this season. In each of ASU's four dual meets this season, VonSchoff has competed in a total of eight individual races and four relays. Each and every time, he's come away victorious. Individually in dual meet action, the freestyle specialist has won twice at 50 yards (20.97 vs. UCSB, 20.75 vs. UW), 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 twice at 500 yards (4:37.90 vs. UCSB, 4:34.91 vs. UW). He's also paced one victorious 200 (vs. UNLV) and three victorious 400 free relay teams (vs. USC, UCSB, UW), in addition to anchoring one 200 medley team to victory (vs. UW) . VonSchoff's winning ways have extended beyond the dual format this season. Racing against some of collegiate swimming's elite at the Texas Invitational, 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. According to the December 12 list, Von Schoff's 200 time at the Texas Invitational is the second-fastest collegiate time this year, with his 100 performance ranking seventh.
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. In the double-dual against Washington and Northwestern Baham spread her winning wealth into the 200 IM, touching the wall first in 2:04.93.
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. Against Washington, Hinks extended past the Huskies' Francis Tam to take the 100 breast in 56.06.
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. In the following meet against Washington and Northwestern, Morelli picked up her first wins of the year, taking the 100 in 57.58 and the 200 in 2:02.40.