1996-97 Men's Swimming and Diving Highlights
Men's Swimming and Diving (Ernie Maglischo/4th Year; Ward O'Connell/23rd Year): Finished 11th at the National Championships held at Minneapolis...recorded a 7-4 dual record and a fifth place finish in the Pac-10...ASU swimmers bettered 12 of 14 season-best times at the Pac-10s...five swimmers qualified for the NCAA Championships...sophomore Francisco Sanchez set two Pac-10 records, winning the 50 free (19.80) on the opening leg of the 200 free and the 100 free (43.24)...Sanchez garnered All-America honors for the second year by placing fourth at the NCAAs in the 50 free with a 19.61...Sanchez also earned All-America honors by finishing 10th in the 100-yard butterfly with a 47.60...at the Nike Sprint Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska, Sanchez broke a seven year old record in the 100-yard free with a 44.46...Sanchez also set a new Mona Plummer Aquatic Center mark in the 50-yard free with a 19.84...senior Felipe Delgado earned All-America honors in the 50 and 100-yard free...ASU's 400 free relay team of Sanchez, Felipe Delgado, Craig Hutchison and Greg Plank set a new Mona Plummer Aquatic Center record with a 2:59.09...ASU's 200/400/800 free relay teams of Sanchez, Nelson Vargas, Craig Hutchison and Felipe Delgado all finished in the top eight at the NCAAs, good for All-America honors.