Nov. 12, 2003
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This Week
The Arizona State swimming and diving teams (No. 13 women, No. 16 men) open their home seasons and Pac-10 seasons this weekend with matchups against the southern California schools at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The women take on No. 11 UCLA on Friday at 2 p.m. while both the men and women will take on USC (No. 5 women, No. 5 men) on Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m.
The Polls
In the first poll released by the CSCAA for the 2003-04 season, the ASU women are ranked 13th while the men are ranked 16th. For the complete poll, visit the CSCAA Website.
ASU vs. UCLA (women only)
ASU last matched up with UCLA on November 22, of last year in Los Angeles where the Bruins came up with a 151-87 victory. Over the course of the last five years, the series between the two schools is deadlocked at 2-2-1.
ASU vs. USC
ASU and USC last saw each other in dual competition last season in Los Angeles, with the men having matched up on November 22, and the women on November 23. The Sun Devil men fell 139-104 while the women lost 174-125. The teams are 1-1 in the series against the Trojans over the past two seasons, yet USC has won four out of the last five meets between the schools.
ASU, Last Time In The Pool
The men's team recorded a 138-99 win over UNLV November 1, at the Buchanan Natatorium in Las Vegas. Nick Brunelli and Joona Puhakka picked up two wins apiece to help the Sun Devil men notch their first win of the young season. Brunelli touched the wall first in both the 100 freestyle (44.87) and the 200 freestyle (1:41.73) and also notched one of the fastest 50 freestyle times in the country so far this year with his opening split of 20.38 in the 200 free relay. In the diving pool, Puhakka swept the 1-meter (367.88) and the 3-meter (366.83) for the second time this year.
The women's team recorded their second victory of the year on October 31, defeating Northern Arizona 172-71 at the Wall Aquatic Center on the campus of NAU. The Sun Devils set eight pool records on the day, led by ?gnes Kov?cs who had two victories, both being new pool bests. Kov?cs' wins came in the 200 freestyle (1:52.06) and the 200 breaststroke (2:16.78), winning the breaststroke event by over seven-and-a-half seconds. ASU came up with victories in 11 of 13 events in defeating NAU for the 12th consecutive time. Sun Devil diver Trisha Tumlinson also won two events, grabbing wins on both the 1-meter (324.83) and 3-meter (325.43), with her 1-meter score being a new Wall Aquatic Center record.
Swimmers in National Top Ten
Several Sun Devil men's swimmers are in the national top-ten according to the latest Taper & Shave College Quick 50. Senior All-American Nick Brunelli's leadoff split of 20.38 from the 200 free relay at UNLV would put him sixth in the nation for the 50 freestyle, while his 100 free time of 44.87 from that same meet ranks him eighth in the country. David Kolozar's 200 fly time of 1:48.55 that he notched at UNLV would place him seventh. Two men's relays rank among the nation's best. The 200 free relay of Brunelli, Wiley Wallace, Ahmed Hussein and Pat Fleming (1:22.62) are listed sixth, while the 200 medley relay of Brunelli, Emerson Ward, Russell MacDonald and Wallace are eighth.
Up Next For The Sun Devils
The Sun Devils swim next the weekend of December 4-6 when some of the squad travels to the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas, and other members of the team travel to the US Open in Seattle, Wash. Both events are non-diving events.