Oct. 13, 2001

GAINESVILLE, Fla. –
The South Carolina men’s and women’s swimming teams opened the season in Gainesville in dual competition vs. Tennessee at the SEC East Challenge. The Tennessee men’s squad defeated South Carolina 149-89 and the Tennessee women outlasted South Carolina 142-100.

In his first meet as a senior, two-time All-American Zsolt Gaspar didn’t disappoint placing first in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 20.46. SEC 200 yard freestyle champion sophomore Tamas Szucs picked up where he left off, placing first in the 200 yard free with a time of 1:38.17. Sophomore Istvan Bathazi also earned a first place finish in the 200 yard IM with a time of 1:51.10. Sophomore Chris McCrary also garnered first place honors in the 200 yard butterfly with a time of 1:50.01, .13 seconds ahead of Gaspar, who finished in second.

Highlighting the meet for the South Carolina Lady Gamecocks was freshman Heather Skaggs. In her first meet for USC, Skaggs didn’t disappoint as she won both the 100 yard freestyle (51:39) and 200 yard freestyle (1:51.78). Sophomore Anna Nyiry also earned a first place finish in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.02. USC also stepped it up in the relays, with both the 400 yard medley and 400 freestyle relay teams placing first. Kristen Butler, Capi Adams, Anna Nyiry and Heather Skaggs competed on the first place 400 yard medley team. Jennifer VanAssen, Carolynn McHugh, Nyiry and Butler competed on the 400 yard freestyle team.

The Gamecocks men’s and women’s teams will be back in action Sat. morning at 9 a.m. in a dual meet with Kentucky.

Men’s Results

400 Yard Medley Relay
2) Lir Derieg, Ed Murphy, Josh Parkin, Tamas Szucs: 3:34.04

1000 Yard Freestyle
3) Istvan Bathazi: 9:34.68
5) Cory Conway: 10:18.27

200 Yard Freestyle
1) Tamas Szucs: 1:38.17
3) Maciek Kajak: 1:42.09
5) Conor Leehaug: 1:45.26

50 Yard Freestyle
1) Zsolt Gaspar: 20.46
4) Chris McCrary: 20.96

200 Yard IM
1) Istvan Bathazi: 1:51.10
5) Javier Botello: 1:55.79

200 Yard Butterfly
1) Chris McCrary: 1:50.01
2) Zsolt Gaspar: 1:50.14

100 Yard Freestyle
3) Ed Murphy: 46.37
4) Javier Botello: 46.75

200 Yard Backstroke
5) Lir Dereig: 1:53.59
6) Conor Leehaug: 1:56.62

500 Yard Freestyle
2) Tamas Szucs: 4:30.01
4) Cory Conway: 4:36.73
7) Maciek Kajak: 4:42.88

200 Yard Breaststroke
2) Istvan Bathazi: 2:05.86

400 Yard Freestyle Relay
2) Gaspar, Botello, McCrary, Murphy: 3:02.66
3) Kajak, Derieg, Leehaug, Conway: 3:19.79