Nov. 20, 2002
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This Week
The Arizona State Swimming and Diving squad heads out to the southern California schools this weekend to begin Pac-10 competition for the 2002-2003 season. The #9-ranked Sun Devil men will face #6-ranked USC on Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m. Friday will be a scored dual meet while Saturday features unscored distance time trials. The #16-ranked Sun Devil women compete against #12 UCLA on Friday (2 p.m.) and #7 USC on Saturday (12 p.m.). UCLA does not have a men's swimming/diving team.
The Polls
The CSCAA released its second poll of the season on November 12. The ASU men broke into the top ten and are tied for ninth, while the women fell to 16th. For the complete poll, visit www.cscaa.org.
Four Swimmers' Times in NCAA Top Ten
Through three meets in the swimming and diving season, four ASU swimmers have recorded times in the NCAA top ten for the 2002-2003 campaign. Sophomore All-American ?gnes Kov?cs leads the way with four of her times being among the nation's best, including an NCAA best of 2:13.40 in the 200 breast. Others in the national top ten are freshman David Kolozar (2nd, 200 fly, 1:48.51), junior All-American Nick Brunelli (6th, 50 free, 20.47; 3rd, 100 free, 45.06; 7th, 200 free, 1:39.39), and senior All-American Christian Harcsas (7th, 200 back, 1:48.42).
ASU vs. USC
The Sun Devils will face the Trojans after last seeing each other in dual competition on November 17 of last year in Tempe. ASU swept USC with the men prevailing 162-138 and the women winning 155-145. That meet marked the first time since 1992 that either the men or the women managed a dual win over the Trojans. The men and women are both 2-8 against USC in their past 10 meetings.
ASU vs. UCLA (women)
The ASU women last matched up in dual action with UCLA on November 16 of last year in Tempe where the Sun Devils came away with a 166-134 victory. The Sun Devils have lost to the Bruins only once in their last five meetings but UCLA holds a 6-3-1 advantage in the last 10 matchups.
Kov?cs Off To Strong Start
Through three official meets thus far this season, sophomore ?gnes Kov?cs has already clocked one NCAA "A" automatic qualifying time and three "B" times during the young campaign. For her "B" times, she has recorded a 1:02.64 in the 100 breast (#4 in NCAA), a 2:02.97 in the 200 IM (#7 in NCAA), and a 4:19.81 in the 400 IM (#9 in NCAA). Her 2:13.40 in the 200 breast is good enough for automatic "A" qualification and is the best time in the nation. She finished second at last year's NCAAs in the 200 breast and is the defending Pac-10 Champion.
ASU, Last Time In The Pool
The women last competed on November 1-2 against Wisconsin in Tucson and lost to the Badgers 202-128. Bright spots for the Devils were four first-place finishes from ?gnes Kov?cs (100 & 200 breast, 200 & 400 IM) and a first-place finish by junior transfer Petra Banovic (200 fly). The men's swimmers were last in the pool on November 3 and fell to then #2-ranked Auburn 121-79. Freshman David Kolozar finished first in the 200 fly (1:48.51), putting himself eighth in the ASU all-time top ten in that event. Nick Brunelli grabbed the only other first-place finish for the Devils with his 45.29 in the 100 free.
Up Next For The Sun Devils
The swimming and diving teams travel to the Texas Invitational hosted by the University of Texas the weekend of December 5-7.