Jan. 16, 2001
This Week --
After a tough road trip, Arizona State's men's and women's swimming and diving teams will hunker down for a three-day home stand. Friday, Jan. 19, the Sun Devils' 12th-ranked men's team will challenge the No. 2 men of Stanford at 1:00 p.m., with the 19th-ranked ASU women meeting No. 3 Stanford at 3:00 p.m. at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. Saturday, Jan. 20, California's sixth-ranked men's and women's teams will challenge ASU at noon. Sunday, Jan. 21, at 1:00 p.m. ASU's women will be in action against Northern Arizona and San Diego.
The Polls --
The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) releases national rankings on a bi-weekly basis. However, due to the winter break, ASU's above rankings of 12th for the men and 19th for the women are based upon the most recent poll, which dates back to December 14th. The poll will offer its next ranking Thursday, Jan. 18.
This Weekend's Opponents . . .
Stanford (Men 3-0/Women 0-0) --
The men are led in part by Michael Bruce, who has the fastest 100 breast time in collegiate swimming this year: 1:57.85. Stanford has eight other individual appearances in the top-10 collegiate times. ... Between Jessica Foschi's 4:42.53 in the 500 free and Tara Kirk's 2:12.24 in the 200 breast, Stanford has two of the fastest times in the nation. Another threat is Misty Hyman, who owns the second-best 100 fly (52.99) and the third-fastest 400 IM (4:13.29).
California (Men 2-0, Women 3-1) --
Anthony Ervin leads a deep Cal team that has 10 different swimmers with top-25 collegiate times. Ervin's 43.10 is tops in the 100 free, with his 19.57 standing second in the 50 free list. ... Natalie Coughlin's numbers speak for themselves: Fastest times in the nation this year for the 200 free (1:45.65), 100 back (52.79), 100 fly (52.40), 200 fly (1:55.93) and 200 IM (1:58.35), also fourth-best 200 back (1:58.69), 13th-best 100 free (50.22), and 21st-best 500 free (4:51.44).
Bay Area Series --
For the last eight straight years, the ASU men have swam duals against both Stanford and Cal. In that time, ASU is 0-16 against the Bay Area schools, with its last win over either opponent coming in 1990-91, when ASU swept the series. The women have challenged the Bay Area schools the last four straight years, with their last win over either opponent coming during the 1996-97 season, when they defeated Cal 175-125.
Northern Arizona (Women 3-3) --
Chelsey Urban is responsible for seven of NAU's fastest individual times this year: 500 free (5:04.98), 1000 free (10:17.60), 1650 free (17:35.77), 100 back (59.26), 200 back (2:03.09), 200 IM (2:12.22), 400 IM (4:39.31).
San Diego (Women 4-3) --
Carolyn Gorrick finished 2000 by setting two school records -- 1:52.88 in the 200 free, 5:03.37 in the 500 free. Gorrick has swam San Diego's seasonal bests in the 100 fly (58.38), 200 fly (2:03.75), 200 IM (2:07.90), and 400 IM (4:29.90).
Most Recent Results . . .
Sun Devils Battle In Southeast --
While ASU's only team win on the road trip was earned by the women over Tennessee, the Sun Devils made a more than respectable showing against perennial powerhouse teams. Among the notables...Anders Lyrbring showed signs of heating up with his fastest 100 (45.98) and 200 (1:38.65) free times of the year...Ahmed Hussein made an immediate impact on his first road trip with ASU, swimming the 10th-fastest time in the nation this year in the 200 back (1:46.72)...In her inaugural ASU road trip, Brooke Townsend became the fourth ASU female to crack the top-25 list this year with a tied-for-25th-fastest 1000 free time of 10:06.15...Riley Mants dropped her season best in the 200 breast to 2:15.95.
Stand-Out Sun Devils . . .
Scott VonSchoff --
Senior All-American Scott VonSchoff has had the Midas touch this season. In each of ASU's six dual meets this season, VonSchoff has competed in a total of 12 individual races and six relays. Each and every time, he's come away victorious. Individually in dual meet action, the freestyle specialist has won twice at 50 yards (20.97 vs. UCSB, 20.75 vs. UW), four times at 100 yards (45.26 vs. UNLV, 45.13 vs. USC, 45.19 vs. UT, 44.31 vs. AU), four times at 200 yards (1:38.53 vs. UNLV, 1:39.20 vs. USC, 1:39.04 vs. UT, 1:37.98 vs. AU) and twice at 500 yards (4:37.90 vs. UCSB, 4:34.91 vs. UW). He's also paced one victorious 200 (vs. UNLV) and five victorious 400 free relay teams (vs. USC, UCSB, UW, UT, AU), in addition to anchoring one 200 medley team to victory (vs. UW) . VonSchoff's winning ways have extended beyond the dual format this season. Racing against some of collegiate swimming's elite at the Texas Invitational, VonSchoff won the 200 free in a personal-record and NCAA `B'-Qualifying time of 1:36.75. According to the Jan. 9 rankings, Von Schoff's 200 time at the Texas Invitational is the third-fastest collegiate time this year.
Sarah Baham --
Junior All-American Sarah Baham, ASU's Madame Butterfly with school records in both the 100 and 200, has been the Sun Devils' leader across the board this season. She has turned in ASU's fastest time of the season in four events (100, 200 fly and 200, 400 IM). Her season-best in the 100 fly (54.70) ranks 11th in the nation this year, with her 200 fly time (1:58.80) standing seventh.
Otto Hinks --
Senior All-American Otto Hinks swam to an NCAA `B' time at the Texas Invitational. ASU's school record-holder in the event (54.46), Hinks swam the 100 breast in 55.61, the 11th-fastest time in that event this year.
Lauren Morelli --
Senior All-American Lauren Morelli, who is first on ASU's all-time 100 back list (55.59) and second on the 200 back list (1:59.16), turned in her first NCAA `B' time of the season with a 2:01.23 in the 200 back at the Texas Invitational. That time is hanging on in the rankings at 23rd.
Riley Mants --
Junior All-American Riley Mants used the early January road trip to move up the collegiate charts. Her 2:15.95 against Auburn in the 200 breast is the 14th-fastest collegiate time in that event this year.