Jan. 11, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – In the last home meet of the season, South Carolina welcomed perennial powerhouses Penn State and Tennessee to the Carolina Natatorium for a dual meet. The Gamecock men lost to PSU (currently ranked 17th by CSCAA) by a score of 153-87; they were also narrowed out by Tennessee (currently number 11) 141-94. On the women’s side, 19th-ranked Carolina, swimming without veterans and NCAA qualifiers Heather Skaggs and Anna Nyiry, lost to Penn State (ranked 24th) 144-98 and to Tennessee by a score of 135-107.

Jennifer VanAssen was the strongest swimmer of the day, on either team, and the only individual Gamecock to finish in the top spot in any event. She won the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:51.17. She also has the second fastest 100 Free time of the day, swimming 51.74 in the event.

Before the meet, USC’s only two seniors received plaques and congratulations from their teammates and coaches. Kristen Butler and Cory Conway were honored on Senior Day and were able to share with their parents the experience of their last home meet. The Butlers came down from Mechanicsburg, Penn., to be with their daughter and the Conways from St. Louis, Mo., to be with their son. Butler took second place in the 200 IM. Conway took seventh in the 500 Free and fifth in both the 1000 Free and 200 Backstroke.

The Gamecock women will next be in action against Arkansas January 18 and both teams will be competing at Georgia January 31.