Feb. 8, 2001
This Week --
As if a recent home stand against Stanford and California, or a trip to Canada, were not enough, the Sun Devils will meet the No. 7 men and No. 2 women of Arizona, at noon Saturday, Feb. 10, at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center on the Tucson, Ariz., campus.
The Polls --
The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) releases national rankings on a bi-weekly basis. The men have been ranked as high as 11th (11/16), but no lower than 14th (current). The women began the season ranked 19th, and were ranked as high as 16th (11/16, 11/30).
This Weekend's Opponents . . .
Arizona (Men 3-2/Women 5-1) --
With four swimmers on the nation's top-25 list in the 100 free, the Arizona men are loaded with sprint talent. Eric LaFleur (43.71), Roland Schoeman (43.79) and Jay Schryver (43.92) are No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 on that list, respectively, with Scott Gaskins (44.64), sitting in a tie for 18th. In addition, Schoeman has the nation's fastest time of the year in the 50 free (19.48) and the 100 fly (47.16). Schryver also stands fourth on the 200 free list (1:36.81), while LaFleur makes a repeat appearance in the top-25 at No. 16 on the 100 back list (49.11). Another Wildcat to watch is Tyler Painter, who is tops in the 500 free (4:19.74), 1650 free (14:52.18) and 400 IM (3:48.02), plus fourth in the 1000 free (9:04.32). Jeff Dash is first in 200 fly (1:45.26), 4th in 100 fly (47.92), 10th in 200 IM (1:49.43) and 20th in 400 IM (3:54.80). Three other Arizona men account for five other top-25 times. ... With 10 athletes making top-25 appearances, the Wildcat women are deep with talent. Among those is Sarah Tolar, second in the 200 free (1:45.77), second in the 200 IM (4:18.13), fifth in the 100 free (49.90), fifth in the 500 free (4:44.90) and 20th in the 1000 free (10:03.18). Beth Botsford is the national leader in the 200 back (1:54.77), second in the 100 back (53.30) and fifth in the 100 fly (54.04). Amanda Beard is tops in the 200 breast (2:11.02) and 14th in the (2:02.96). Seven other swimmers account for 18 other individual appearances on the top-25 times list.
Last Time vs. Arizona (2/12/00) --
Although the Sun Devil women lost to Arizona for the sixth consecutive time (142-101), ASU's men notched their fifth straight win over the Wildcats by a 128-115 margin. Attila Czene swam the nation's fastest times (of the moment) in the 200m IM (1:57.32) and 200m fly (1:57.33). In addition, Otto Hinks led a 1-2-3 sweep of the 200m breast with a time of 2:17.37, and Marc Briggs swept the 1-meter (204.50) and 3-meter (234.35) dives. Katrina Pfeuffer provided a victorious diving sweep for the ASU women
(1m: 286.13, 3m: 202.25), while Sarah Baham won the 200m fly in 2:11.95.
Up Next --
After going to war with the Wildcats, ASU will march into the post-season. First on the schedule are the women's Pac-10 Championships in Federal Way, Wash., Feb. 22-24. Shortly thereafter, the men will compete for the conference championship in Long Beach, Calif., March 1-3. The NCAA Zone Diving Championships are Mar. 9-10 in Federal Way, Wash. The women's swimming NCAA Championships are Mar. 15-17 in Long Island, NY. The men's swimming NCAA Championships are Mar. 22-24 at College Station, Texas.
Most Recent Results . . .
Sun Devils Battle North Of The Border --
Armed with teams of ten, ASU's men's and women's swimming teams traveled to the campus of British Columbia University (Canada) to take part in the UBC Colleges' Cup. Also in attendance were the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University. By the end of the two-day meet, the Sun Devil men had captured first-place with 525 points, while the women finished runner-up to UBC (525) with 496 points. Among the highlights for the men were two meet relay records, one in the 400-meter free (3:21.93), the other in the 400m medley (3:43.37). Scott VonSchoff established a solo meet record with a 50.82 performance in the 100m free. The Sun Devils' top female performer was Riley Mants, who returned to her native Canada to win the 100m breast in 1:11.39, and the 200m in 2:32.23.
Stand-Out Sun Devil Swimmers (men, in alphabetical order) . . .
Otto Hinks --
Senior All-American Hinks, ASU's school record-holder in the 100 breast (54.46), Hinks swam 55.61 at the Texas Invitational, nothing an NCAA `B' qualifying time and the 11th-fastest time in the nation this year.
Ahmed Hussein --
A mid-season arrival, Hussein -- who represented his Egypt at the 2000 Olympics -- has made an immediate impact on ASU swimming. Although his season-best in the 100 back (51.10) is only third on the ASU top-times list, Hussein's 1:46.59 in the 200 back is 10th in the nation this year, not to mention third on the ASU's all-time list.
Anders Lyrbring --
Often overshadowed by teammate Scott VonSchoff, junior All-American Lyrbring is among the nation's elite with the 20th-fastest time in the nation in the 200 free (1:38.65).
Austin Paulsen --
Back competing since the semester break, Paulsen seems to be regaining the form that in 1999 put him second on ASU's all-time 400 IM list (3:50.65). Although yet to crack into the nation's top-times list this year, Paulsen's best of 3:56.44 is near the No. 25 time of 3:55.53. In addition to the 400 distance, Paulsen has ASU's fastest time of the year in the 200 IM (1:52.40).
Scott VonSchoff --
Scott VonSchoff's magical 2001 winning streak came to a close when the Bay Area schools visited Tempe, Jan. 19-20. In the six dual meets prior to facing Stanford and California, VonSchoff had competed in a total of 12 individual races and six relays, and had claimed first-place each and every time. However, in the opening relay vs. Stanford, VonSchoff anchored the 400 medley team to an NCAA `B' qualifying time of 3:18.74, but a third-place finish. The next day vs. Cal, the Sun Devils placed second in the 400 medley relay (3:19.73), and Eric Anthony (43.87) snapped VonSchoff's (44.59) individual streak with a win in the 100 free. VonSchoff did earn three wins over the weekend, meaning that in dual meets this season the freestyle specialist has placed first twice at 50 yards (20.97 vs. UCSB, 20.75 vs. UW), five times at 100 yards (45.26 vs. UNLV, 45.13 vs. USC, 45.19 vs. UT, 44.31 vs. AU, 45.00 vs. Stanford), four times at 200 yards (1:38.53 vs. UNLV, 1:39.20 vs. USC, 1:39.04 vs. UT, 1:37.98 vs. AU) and twice at 500 yards (4:37.90 vs. UCSB, 4:34.91 vs. UW). He's also paced one victorious 200 free (vs. UNLV) and seven victorious 400 free relay teams (vs. USC, UCSB, UW, UT, AU, Stanford, California), in addition to anchoring one 200 medley team to victory (vs. UW) . VonSchoff's winning ways have extended beyond the dual format this season. At the Texas Invitational, VonSchoff won the 200 free in a personal-record and NCAA `B'-Qualifying time of 1:36.75, which stands as the third-fastest collegiate time this year. His season best in the 100 (44.13) ranks seventh in the nation. Most recently, VonSchoff set a meet records at the UBC Colleges' Cup, by winning the 100-meter free in 50.82, and by anchoring the 400m free team to a 3:21.93, and the 400m medley team to a 3:43.37.
Stand-Out Sun Devil Swimmers (women, in alphabetical order) . . .
Sarah Baham --
Junior All-American Sarah Baham, ASU's Madame Butterfly with school records in both the 100 and 200, has been the Sun Devils' leader across the board this year, turning in ASU season-bests four events, the 100 fly (54.70), 200 fly (1:58.80), 200 IM (2:04.93) and 400 IM (4:25.46). Her 2001-best in the 200 fly (1:58.80 vs. USC) is seventh in the nation, while her 100 fly (54.70 vs. USC) ranks 12th. A model of versatility, Baham's only 100 free performance (52.03 vs. Washington, Northwestern) of the season is the second-fastest ASU time of the year, while her solo 500 free time (5:01.22 vs. Auburn, Florida) is fourth on ASU's season-bests list.
Claire Hedenskog --
Hedenskog, a sophomore with ASU's eighth all-time best 100 free performance (50.89), is the Sun Devils' 2001 leader in the 50 free (23.64), 100 free (51.22) and 200 free (1:52.53).
Josie Jedick --
Jedick's career best in the 100 breast (1:03.81) ranks ninth on ASU's all-time list. This season, Jedick's best is a 1:05.95 (third on the team) in the 100, with a 2:18.94 in the 200 breast (second on the team).
Riley Mants --
Second on ASU's all-time 100 (1:02.44) and 200 (2:12.47) breast lists, Mants is the Sun Devils' leader in both events this season with times of 1:04.13 and 2:15.95, respectively. While her 100 time is just off the top-25 list, Mants' 200 season-best is tied for 16th nationally.
Lauren Morelli --
Senior All-American Lauren Morelli, who is ASU's record holder in the 100 back (55.59) and is second on the 200 back list (1:59.16), is currently clinging to the 2001 national list with a 25th-best 200 time of the season (2:01.23). Morelli's season-best in the 100 back (57.33) ranks second on the squad behind Miranda Shald's 57.14.
Other Swimming Notables --
Gavin Meadows (Jr.) and Brooke Townsend (Fr.) have not gone unnoticed since joining the team at the semester break. Meadows has the men's fastest 500 free time of the season (4:33.27), while Townsend has the women's fastest 500 free (4:55.02), 1000 free (10:06.15) and 1650 free (16:53.94). Meadows is also third on the 200 free list (1:39.10), second to only VonSchoff and Lyrbring.
Stand-Out Sun Devil Divers (in alphabetical order) . . .
Marc Briggs --
Briggs, who earned a Pac-10 individual title in the 3-meter dive last year, and owns the ASU school records in the 1-meter/11-dive format (570.50), 3-meter/11-dive format (632.25) and the platform (483.40), is also ASU's current record holder in the new 1-meter/6-dive optionals format (392.48). Briggs has been dominant on the short springboard, picking up seven first-place finishes. He's also won three times at the 3-meter height.
Natalie Burgess --
Burgess, like Briggs, has put her name in the record books via the optionals format. Her 269.15 at the Georgia Invitational is the top mark of the year for ASU in that 1-meter format. Burgess also holds the best 3-meter score of the season (296.30). In terms of first-place finishes, Burgess has four 1-meter wins plus five in the 3-meter.
Trish Malatesta --
Improving upon her own school record of 432.57 on the platform dive, Malatesta performed to a 438.65 at the Georgia Invitational. Her season-high in the 3-meter (271.58) came in a first-place finish against Washington.