Oct. 24, 2004

Dallas, Texas – The South Carolina women’s swimming & diving team concluded its weekend at the SMU Classic with a third place finish as the Gamecocks ended the two-day competition with 274 points. SMU took first place with 346 points. For the second consecutive day USC senior diver Lauren King came away with first place as she scored 294.60 points on the three-meter board for the top finish on the night.

Carolina also received two second place performances from junior Haley Skaggs (100 freestyle; 51.51) and freshman Heather Roffey (200 butterfly; 2:02.68). Roffey would also swim in the 500 freestyle and place fifth with a time of 4:59.14.

Freshman Christy Williams continued to have success in her first weekend as a Gamecock swimmer as she took third place in the 200 individual medley (2:05.30) and eighth in the 500 freestyle (4:58.84). Teammate Carly Hensel also earned third place in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.27) as well as fifth in the 200 backstroke (2:06.40).

“Everybody showed up tonight and competed well,” said USC head swimming coach Don Gibb. “Roffey was very competitive tonight in both the 200 and the 500 freestyle. Both 500’s were really competitive looking at Williams’ performance too. Carly Hensel also performed well considering that she had to swim two events back-to-back. Of course another solid performance by Lauren King as the top scorer in diving. It was a really encouraging meet and a good effort for our team especially with five of our eight swimmers competing as freshmen.”

Also competing and scoring points for USC was senior Caroynn McHugh (9th; 100 freestyle, 52.41) junior Kendel Fiorentino (9th; 200 butterfly, 2:09.01) freshman Mandee Creger (9th, 100 breaststroke, 2:21.72) and freshman Kasey Tamkun (11th; 200 backstroke, 2:08.42).

Both the 200 freestyle relay (Haley Skaggs, McHugh, Williams, Cregar) and the 400 freestyle relay (Haley Skaggs, McHugh, Hensel, Roffey) finished in fourth place on the evening. Carolina’s 200 freestyle relay went 1:36.46 with the 400 freestyle relay ending up at 3:30.71.

The USC men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams open up dual meet action on Friday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. as the Gamecocks host Clemson at the Carolina Natatorium.