Feb. 9, 2005
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This Week
The Arizona State swimming and diving teams hit the road to take on their intrastate rival the University of Arizona Saturday, February 12 at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center. Events are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
ASU vs. Arizona
The Sun Devil swimming and diving teams took on the University of Arizona in the 2003-04 season in Tempe in a dual meet that saw both the men and women fall to the Wildcats. The men were defeated 169.5-128.5 while the women fell 170-130. The Sun Devils last took on the Wildcats in Tucson during the 2002-03, which resulted in losses for both the men and women.
Breaking Records
Junior All-American Joona Puhakka set two new school-records in as many days in meets against Stanford (Jan. 21) and California (Jan. 22). Puhakka returned to dual meet action against Stanford for the first time since November bettering his previous school-record in the 1-meter springboard event with a 403.58. The reigning NCAA champion broke his second-school record in as many days, destroying the school record in the 3-meter event that he set in a dual meet against USC earlier this season by more than 51 points, scoring a 449.48.
Fourteen Swimmers' Times in NCAA Top Twenty
Through seven dual meets for the men and nine for the women in the swimming and diving season, 14 ASU swimmers have recorded times in the NCAA top twenty for the 2004-2005 campaign. Senior All-American Florencia Szigeti leads the way with three of her times being among the nation's best, including a tenth best of 49.45 in the 100 freestyle. She also claims top-fifteen times in both the 50 and 200 freestyle (15th, 50 free, 22.96, 15th, 200 free, 1:47.63). After only three meets, senior All-American Agnes Kovacs swam into top-ten times in the 100 breaststroke (10th, 1:01.87) and the 200 breaststroke (7th, 2:12.55). Freshman Caitlin Andrew climbed into the top-ten in the 100 butterfly, claiming the nation's eighth-fastest time at 54.03. Others in the national top twenty are senior Jeff Barrett (13th, 200 free, 1:36.62), freshman Sarah A Fischer (14th, 1650 free, 16:31.52), junior Kathryn Henessy (16th, 1650 free, 16:33.42), freshman Lucas Azevedo (16th, 1650 free, 15:20.26), senior Emerson Ward (17th, 100 breaststroke, 55.00), junior Leo Martins (17th, 200 breast, 2:00.06), junior Laura Ullrich (17th, 100 fly, 54.87), junior All-American David Kolozar (19th, 200 fly, 1:47.42), junior Joey Clements (18th, 200 breast, 2:00.66), sophomore Christine Creek (19th, 200 breast, 2:15.67) and junior Heidi Schmidt (20th, 100 breast, 1:02.82) .
ASU In The Polls
In the seventh poll released by the CSCAA for the 2004-05 season, the women jump a spot to 16th. For the complete poll, visit www.cscaa.org.
ASU, Last Time in the Pool
The Arizona State University men's and women's swimming and diving teams were last in the pool January 21-22, hosting Stanford and California at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. Against Stanford, the women were led by Caitlin Andrew and Agnes Kovacs. Andrew took first-place honors in the 100 backstroke, swimming an NCAA consideration time of 55.80. She competed in the 100 butterfly event, claiming second-place behind U.S. Olympian Dana Kirk with a time of 54.52. Kovacs swam two NCAA qualifying times on the afternoon in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.87) and 200 breaststroke (2:12.06). The men were led by diver Joona Puhakka who claimed first-place in the 1-meter and 3-meter events, setting a new school-record in the 1-meter springboard. The men had strong performances by Lucas Azevedo in the 1000 freestyle (9:27.26) and the 500 freestyle (4:40.40), David Kolozar in the 200 butterfly swimming a season-best and NCAA consideration time of 1:47.44 and CJ Nuess in the 400 IM (3:56.41). Against California, the women's 200 medley relay team of Florencia Szigeti, Kovacs, Andrew and Laura Ullrich swam a NCAA consideration time of 1:42.82 to take first-place. Kovacs led the way for the Sun Devil women with three individual first-place finishes in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.08), the 200 breaststroke (2:12.55) and the 200 IM (2:02.60). Andrew took two first-place honors in the 100 backstroke (54.91) and the 100 butterfly (54.03). The men saw another record breaking performance by diver Joona Puhakka, crushing the school-record in the 3-meter by 51 points. In the swimming pool, the men had a season-best and NCAA consideration time of 1:47.42 in the 200 butterfly while CJ Nuess swam a season-best time of 1:50.26. Leo Martins swam into first-place in the 200 breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:01.24.
Up Next For The Sun Devils
The Sun Devil swimming and diving teams return to action for Pac-10 Championships with the women and the divers hitting the water in Federal Way, Wash. February, 23-27, while the men take on the competition March, 2-6 in Long Beach, Calif.