Aug. 14, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State senior standout swimmer Nick Brunelli (Mansfield, Mass.) just missed the bronze medal with a lifetime best 50.04 in the 100m freestyle at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Brunelli was the highest US finisher in the event and missed the bronze medal by just over a tenth of a second.
As a junior in 2002-03, Brunelli recorded ASU's best times in the 50y free (19.58), 100y free (42.93) and 200y free (1:35.65). Brunelli helped lead the Sun Devils to an 11th place finish at the NCAA Championship in Austin, Texas by placing fifth in the 100 free, ninth in the 50 free and 10th in the 200 free. He earned six All-America honors, including first-team recognition in the 100 free and 200 free relay.
In addition to Brunelli's standout performance at the Pan Am games, teammate Florencia Szigeti earned a silver medal in the 100m freewith a time of 55.92 while competing for her home country of Argentina.