Jan. 9, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina men’s and women’s swimming and diving returns to the pool on Saturday, January 10 in dual meet action at Kentucky. Saturday’s meet is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Lancaster Aquatic Center in Lexington, Ky. Both the USC men’s and women’s squads are 2-3 in dual meet action this year with 1-1 records vs. the SEC.

Each team boasts several top times and scores in the SEC and the nation. Top among the women’s squad is senior Jennifer VanAssen’s time in the 200 freestyle, 1:46.07, which is currently the fastest time in the nation. VanAssen, who broke her own school record in the 200 freestyle and qualified for the US Olympic Trials, also swam on the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays that are also among the top 10 fastest in the nation. The 200 freestyle relay (VanAssen, Heather Skaggs, Carolynn McHugh, Ashleigh Bastak) is also the fastest time in the nation at 1:31.31. The 400 freestyle relay (VanAssen, Heather Skaggs, Haley Skaggs, McHugh) is the fifth fastest in the nation at 3:21.94 and the 800 freestyle relay (VanAssen, Dedekind, Heather Skaggs, Haley Skaggs) is also fifth fastest at 7:22.63. Carolina also set a school record in the 400 freestyle relay. VanAssen has automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships with Heather Skaggs, Haley Skaggs, Carolynn McHugh and Asheligh Bastak provisionally qualified.

The USC women’s divers also are among the nation’s best. Four of the top seven divers in the SEC on the one-meter board are members of the USC women’s team. Lauren King first (319.5), Holly Hodges second (313.43), Lyndsey Havens fifth (295.50) and Allison Brennan seventh (290.78). Brennan also holds the second top score on the three-meter board with a score of 493.94.

Leading the way on the men’s side is senior Istvan Bathazi. Bathazi is the third fastest in the nation in the 400 individual medley (3:48.57) and sixth fastest in the 200 individual medley (3:48.57). Junior Andy Bradley has the top diving score in the one-meter (414.90) and third top score in the three-meter (534.37). Junior Dean Emmerton also has two top diving scores with the fourth highest in the three-meter (501.36) and fifth highest in the one-meter (342.45). Senior swimmer Ed Murphy is the sixth fastest in the SEC in 100 freestyle (45.01), senior Tamas Szucs is also the sixth fastest in the 200 freestyle (1:37.79) and eighth fastest in the 500 freestyle (4:28.10). Junior Joshua Parkin is sixth fastest in the conference also in the 100 butterfly (49.45).