Nov. 15, 2001
This Week
Arizona State's men's (2-0) and women's (2-0) swimming and diving teams, both of which debuted at No. 13 in the CSCAA poll November 1, will open up their Pac-10 Conference schedules by welcoming to Tempe ranked teams from UCLA (4-0) and USC (men 1-0, women 1-0, prior to Nov. 15 dual w/Arizona), plus the SoCal All-Stars, November 15 and 16. Action begins Friday when the ASU women compete in a double-dual vs. No. 9 UCLA and the unranked, exhibition SoCal All-Stars team, which is made up of former collegiate swimmers. As UCLA does not field a men's team, the ASU men will compete only against the SoCal All-Stars. Both meets Friday begin at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, ASU's men and women will compete against the fourth-ranked men and the sixth-ranked women of USC in dual action at noon. All home Sun Devil meets are contested on campus at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
This Polls
The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) releases national rankings on a bi-weekly basis. The first poll of the 2001-02 season was released November 1, with the ASU men ranked 13th with 108 votes, while the women were also ranked 13th, receiving 102 votes. A complete list of the current rankings appears on Page 2 of this release. The next poll will be released November 15, just before the Sun Devils take on their weekend opponents. For more information, access www.cscaa.org.
ASU vs. UCLA, SoCal All-Stars
The Sun Devil women were 1-0 last season before UCLA defeated them 179-118 in Los Angeles. The 61-point margain of victory was by far the largest in recent history. In the 1999 meeting, ASU edged UCLA 122-121, while in 1998, the teams battled to a 150-150 tie. All-time standings are not available, but ASU has lost only once in the last four meetings, while UCLA has a 6-3-1 advantage over the past 10 dual competitions.
There is no series history for the women or men with the SoCal All-Stars.
ASU vs. USC
ASU's men were 1-0 last season until USC handed the Sun Devils their first loss, 140-103 in Los Angeles. The Sun Devils have lost their last eight meetings with USC, with their last win coming November 19, 1992, by the score of 176-124. Although all-time standings are not available, the 1992 meeting is ASU's only win in its last 10 duals with USC.
The Sun Devil women nearly upset USC for the first time in eight meetings, before falling 153-147 last year in Los Angeles. The last time the ASU women defeated the Trojans was November 19, 1992, by the score of 179-119. ASU also won the 1991 meeting to trail USC 8-2 over the last 10 meetings.
ASU, Last Time In The Pool
Compeiting at the University of Arizona, ASU's men and women disposed of the 15th- and 25th- ranked men's and women's teams from the University of Wisconsin, 170-120 and 179.5-120.5, respectively. Freshman sensation ?gnes Kov?cs once again stole the show, winning three events while climbing onto yet another ASU all-time top-10 list. The Sun Devil men were powered by double-winner Ahmed Hussein, who placed first in the 100 back and 200 back for the second consecutive meet.
Up Next For The Sun Devils
Both Sun Devils teams are off from competition next week, but then return to action at the prestigeous Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas, November 30-December 2. The Texas Invite marks ASU's last competition until it hosts Washington, December 29.
Stand-out Sun Devil Swimmers & Divers
Sarah Baham (All-American -- Senior) --
At Hawaii (10/19), Baham demonstrated the dominance that made her ASU's school record holder in the butterfly events, placing first easily in 56.95 for the 100 fly and 2:03.67 for the 200 fly.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 100 fly (10th), 200 fly (10th), 200 medley relay (12th), 400 medley relay (8th). 2000: All-America: 100 fly (8th), 200 fly (10th), 400 medley relay (10th). 1999: All-America: 800 free relay (16th).
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 fly 53.68 (1st), 200 fly 1:58.22 (1st), 200 IM 2:04.93, 400 IM 4:24.49 (11th), 50 free 23.65 (7th), 100 free 51.48.
Nick Brunelli (All-American -- Sophomore) --
Brunelli won the 50 free and 100 free at Hawaii (10/19) with respective times of 20.62 and 45.65, then dropped his season best in the 100 to 45.50 vs. Wisconsin (11/2) and won the 50 free in 20.63. A sophomore, Brunelli has recorded faster times in both events only at the 2001 Pac-10s and NCAAs.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free relay (11th), 400 free relay (8th), 100 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 20.34 (10th), 100 free 44.48 (10th-t), 200 free 1:39.70, 100 back 49.27 (5th), 200 back 1:49.82, 200 IM 1:52.91.
Claire Hedenskog (All-American -- Junior) --
At Hawaii (10/19), Hedenskog won the 50 free in 24.00, before placing second vs. Wisconsin (11/2) in 24.02. Last season, Hedenskog swam sub-24 seconds in the 50 free six times in 13 chances. Also against Wisconsin, she placed third overall in the 100 free in 51.92.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 medley relay (12th), 400 medley relay (8th), 100 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 23.64 (6th), 100 free 50.61 (3rd), 200 free 1:50.27.
Ahmed Hussein (Sophomore) --
Hussein has been a double-winner for ASU in the 100 and 200 back in both of its meets this season, turning in respective times of 50.12 and 1:47.70 vs. Hawaii (10/19) and 50.12 and 1:48.67 vs. Wisconsin (11/2). Last season, Hussein swam below 1:49.00, three times in seven 200 back races.
NCAA History * None.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 back 49.54 (6th), 200 back 1:46.16 (3rd), 100 fly 52.44, 200 IM 2:01.22.
?gnes Kov?cs (Reigning Olympic and World 200m Breast Champion -- Freshman) --
In just two meets, Kov?cs has swam herself onto four ASU all-time top-10 lists and has gone 6-0 in her individual races. Most recently vs. Wisconsin (11/2), she improved her collegiate best in the 100 breast to 1:01.81, an NCAA 'A' qualifying time that ranks second all-time at ASU, while also becoming the sixth-fastest swimmer in school history in the 400 IM, with an NCAA 'B' time of 4:18.64. At Hawaii (10/13), Kov?cs swam what are still her best times of the season in the 200 breast, where her NCAA 'A' time of 2:11.27 was good enough for second all-time at ASU, and in the 200 IM, where her NCAA 'B' qualifying effort of 2:02.96 makes her the sixth-fastest ASU swimmer ever in that event.
NCAA History * None.
International History * 2000 Olympics: Gold medal 200m breast, fifth-place 100m breast. 1996 Olympics: Bronze medal 200m breast. 2001 World Championships: Gold medal 200m breast. 1998 World Championships: Gold medal 200m breast.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 breast 1:01.81 (2nd), 200 breast 2:11.27 (2nd), 200 IM 2:02.96 (6th), 400 IM 4:18.64 (6th).
Anders Lyrbring (All-American -- Junior) --
Placed second in the 200 free (1:40.27) and 500 free (4:34.78) vs. Hawaii (10/19). Lyrbring's effort in the 500 free was just shy of his 2000-01 season best of 4:34.65.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free relay (11th) 400 free relay (8th), 800 free relay (4th), 100 free and 200 free qualifier. 2000: All-America: 200 free (16th), 200 free relay (9th), 800 free relay (2nd), 100 free and 400 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 20.53, 100 free 44.23 (10th-t), 200 free 1:35.89 (4th), 500 free 4:23.96.
Simon MacDonald (All-American -- Senior) --
Dropped his season bests in the 50 free (20.84) and 100 fly (50.63) vs. Wisconsin (11/2). Although his career-best in the 50 free is 19.94, last season MacDonald never dipped below the 20-second barrier, although he swam sub-21 seconds in seven of 11 attempts.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free relay (11th), 400 free relay (8th). 2000: All-America: 200 free relay (9th), 200 medley relay (place), 50 free and 100 free qualifier. 1999: All-America: 200 free relay (8th), 400 free relay (11th), 800 free relay (13th), 200 medley relay (11th), 400 medley relay.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 19.94 (5th), 100 free 44.55, 100 fly 48.54.
Riley Mants (All-American -- Senior) --
Has twice swam just shy of NCAA 'B' qualifying times (2:18.35) in the 200 breast, with a 2:18.98 effort vs. Hawaii (10/19) and a 2:18.53 effort vs. Wisconsin (11/2).
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 breast (15th), 200 medley relay (12th), 400 medley relay (8th). 2000: All-America: 400 medley relay (10th). 1999: All-America: 100 breast (11th), 200 breast (4th).
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 breast 1:02.44 (3rd), 200 breast 2:12.47 (3rd), 200 IM 2:02.95 (5th).
Gavin Meadows (All-American -- Senior) --
Placing first in both, Meadows swam 1:39.38 in the 200 free and 4:33.25 in the 500 free vs. Hawaii (10/19).
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free (12th), 800 free relay (4th), 500 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 free 44.99, 200 free 1:36.31 (7th), 500 free 4:21.85 (7th).
Miranda Shald (All-American -- Sophomore) --
Won the 100 back easily vs. Hawaii (10/19) in 59.24, placed fourth in the 100 fly in 1:00.64.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 medley relay (12th), 400 medley relay (8th), 100 back qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 back ~55.22 (1st), 200 back 2:06.64, 100 fly 56.09 (9th), 50 free 25.37.
Florencia Szigeti (Freshman) --
Nearly swimming onto ASU's all-time top-10 list in the 100 free, Szigeti placed first vs. Hawaii (10/19) in 51.11. Beda Leirvaag is currently 10th on ASU's all-time 100 free list with her 1986 effort of 51.00. Szigeti also placed first in the 200 free in 1:52.84.
NCAA History * None.
International History * South American record holder in short-course 200-meter free 1:59.43 (1:47.00, converted), Argentine short-course record holder in 100m free 56.19 (50.34 converted).
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 free 51.11, 200 free 1:52.84.
Brooke Townsend (Sophomore) --
Has twice placed first in the 500 free with times of 4:58.42 (vs. Hawaii) and 4:58.11 (vs. Wisconsin). Also vs. Wisconsin, improved her best in the 1000 free to 10:05.23, while finishing second.
NCAA History * None.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 200 free 1:50.14, 500 free 4:49.04 (8th), 1000 free 10:05.23, 1650 free 16:40.73 (10th).
Bo West (All-American -- Senior) --
Placing third in both, West timed in at 1:40.44 for the 200 free and 1:52.19 for the 200 back.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 800 free relay (4th), 200 free qualifier. 2000: All-America: 800 free relay (2nd), 100 free, 200 free and 400 free qualifier. 1999: All-America: 200 free (11th), 200 free relay (8th), 400 free relay (11th).
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 20.70, 100 free 44.75, 200 free 1:36.52, 500 free 4:24.64, 100 back ~49.86 (8th), 200 back 1:50.05.
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