Sept. 28, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s and women’s swimming teams kick off the 2005-06 season on Friday afternoon with their first dual meet of the year at Auburn. The meet is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT at the Martin Aquatics Center. Auburn is the three-time defending national champion on the men’s side and has also won three consecutive SEC titles on the women’s side as well as national championships from 2002-2004. The South Carolina men’s and women’s divers will not compete this weekend.
SOUTH CAROLINA MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING OUTLOOK
With four top 20 finishes in the last six seasons, the USC men’s swimming and diving team hopes to continue making their mark in the SEC and across the nation. Although the Gamecocks lose All-American diver Andy Bradley, the squad looks to move on with a solid nucleus that has been on the edge of making the next step over the past few years.
“On the men’s side, we just need a few more difference makers,” said USC head coach Don Gibb. “Points are so hard to come by in the SEC. We just need some real good efforts from our seniors and they need to kind of channel the young guys in the right direction and get us off to a good start.”
The senior leadership starts with Reid Duff, who continues to set personal bests and lower times each season. A diamond in the rough, according to Gibb, Duff will continue to be the Gamecocks’ top swimmer from the 50-200 freestyle. The 200 freestyle event continues to be the most deep event for USC with Duff, Tamas Bathazi, Dan White, Colby Mack, Kyle Cormier and Christian Robledo all hitting NCAA “B” standards last year. Four of those five swimmers should contend for a spot on the 800 freestyle relay that may be among the best in the nation.
“I think overall, from a team standpoint, our best opportunity to score points is the 800 freestyle relay,” said Gibb. “Tamas is a seasoned veteran with Olympic experience and I expect him to qualify as an individual as well as the relay. Colby is very capable of making the NCAA’s and Kyle had a solid summer of training and I believe we will see him in postseason competition.”
Along with the 800 freestyle relay, Gibb sees White making a difference at both the conference and national championships. White finished 15th at the SEC Championships in both the 500 and 1650 freestyle and is looking to reach the championships finals of the conference meet this year as well as advancing to the NCAA Championships.
“Dan White right now has the best opportunity to score for us,” said Gibb. “Reid Duff does as well but he is in some tough events.”
White is part of a solid group of distance swimmers that are expected to make a difference. Seniors Mike and Tim Farrington look to close out their careers on a high note. Tim Farrington scored at the SEC’s with a 13th place finish in the 400 IM as well as 16th in the 1650 freestyle.
“Tim should continue to lead the team in endurance events and I think the NCAA Championships is within reach with continued work and improvement,” said Gibb. “I expect that Mike will save his best for his senior year and push that NCAA standard.”
Senior captain Justin Kata is the leader for USC in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Kata has scored at the SEC Championships the last two seasons.
It’s a new year for the men’s divers at South Carolina. Diving coach Todd Sherritt looks to rebuild with senior Ian Balman and two newcomers. Joining the Gamecock program is Corry Christian, a high school state champion from Florida and David Ovelson, a freshman from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. With fresh faces competing this year, the USC men’s team looks to continue to provide points for the Gamecocks at the SEC and NCAA Championships.
Balman has reached the NCAA Zones all three years he has competed at Carolina and had his best finish at the SEC Championships this past season.
“Ian has improved performances every year he has been at Carolina,” said diving coach Todd Sherritt. “My goal for him is to finish in the top 12 at the SEC’s and to qualify for the NCAA Championships. He has contributed to depth on the team every season and that should be no different this year.”
Christian comes into the program after a successful senior year that saw him win the one-meter board at the Florida HS State Championships. A raw talent, Sherritt is excited in the potential that Christian brings to the program.
“A nationally ranked diver, Corry is extremely acrobatic and very powerful,” said Sherritt. “He jumps very high in the air and will be a great asset to our team. I think he can final at the SEC’s and make the NCAA Championships. He should be a major contributor to Gamecock diving in the future.”
Sherritt has about the same high expectations for Ovelson as he does with Christian. Ovelson brings with him a very competitive ledger with a background at the World Championships in Germany as well as the Jr. Pan American Games in Mexico and the France Nationals.
“David has extensive experience nationally and internationally,” said Sherritt. “One of the top age group divers and high school divers out of Canada, he should be able to score and final at the SEC’s and also final at the NCAA’s. He is a very smooth diver and strong in his technique, a leaper as well.”
Replacing the most decorated diver in USC history is not easy. Bradley did hold the school records on both the one-meter and three-meter boards. However, the USC men’s divers expect to continue to contribute and be a major factor by the end of the 2005-06 season.
SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING OUTLOOK
The 2005-06 South Carolina women’s swimming and diving team heads into the season with one of its most talented and deep teams in school history. Led by senior swimmer Haley Skaggs, and senior divers Allison Brennan and Tracey Richardson, the Gamecocks expect this season to be one of the most successful ever.
“I see the women’s team continuing to improve,” said USC head swimming coach Don Gibb. “I think the women are on their way. I think we are adding quality depth too, instead of just a few high points here and there. We are actually getting our numbers up and in the end that is what it is going to have to take to win championships. We just have to stay healthy.”
With two consecutive finishes in fifth place at the SEC Championships, the Gamecocks are looking to cracking the Top 4 at this year’s conference meet and again reach the Top 20 at the NCAA Championships.
“I think fourth in the SEC is realistic for our women’s team,” said Gibb. “Top 4 in our league, you are definitely showing up at the NCAA Championships. Last year we kind of gave it away towards the end of the meet and we should have finished fourth.”
With Carolina only losing four letterwinners from last year’s team, USC looks to be in good shape with more experience going into the conference meet.
On the swimming side, sophomore Christy Williams set a school record in the 200 butterfly last year qualifying for the NCAA Championships and will be the team’s leader in the middle distance freestyle and butterfly events. Sophomore Heather Roffey also scored points in butterfly and distance freestyle with sophomore Carly Hensel ahead in the breaststroke and individual medley events. Each of the three sophomores, along with Skaggs, were the leading scorers last year at the SEC meet and plan to be among the very best again in the conference.
“Roffey, Hensel, Wiliams, I think those girls have the ability to swim in the top 8 at the SEC’s,” said Gibb. “I know a couple of them, right after last year’s meet was over, were talking about `Now I understand.’ In order to swim at night at the big meet, you have to bring your “A” game in the morning.”
Along with a strong corps of returning veterans, Carolina boasts one of the top incoming classes in the country led by freshmen Amanda Dunnigan, Kassy Kugler and Sharntelle McLean.
“Our incoming class this year is excellent,” said Gibb. “Those kids, all they need is a little experience and understanding of what it is like to be in this league. I think before Kugler and Dunnigan graduate, they will have the ability to be a SEC champion. Our returnees are hungry and they understand what it takes now. We have some real gamers on this team and I wouldn’t be shocked by some of them and what they are capable of.”
Three South Carolina women’s divers return for the 2005-06 season. Former national champion Allison Brennan is back after redshirting last year, and 2004 Olympian Tracey Richardson and junior Lyndsey Havens come into the season fresh off a successful 04-05 campaign.
Brennan will continue to be among the nation’s best in her final season in the garnet and black. USC’s first national champion in swimming and diving, Brennan has high hopes again to win a title at the conference and national level.
“Allison had a great performance at World University Games this summer after red-shirting last year, said diving coach Todd Sherritt. “She will put herself in position to win both boards at the SEC & NCAA Championships. She has steadily improved every year and is now showing that she is competitive on an international level as well.”
Also returning with international experience is senior Tracey Richardson, who has twice been to the NCAA Championships and won an SEC championship in 2003 on the three-meter board. As is the case with Brennan, there are high expectations for Richardson also to close out her career on a high note.
Tracey had a successful season last year and competed well at the SEC Championships.” said Sherritt. “She should make top 12 in the NCAA’s and hopefully final on a board at the NCAA Championships. I hope that in her senior year she puts herself in a position to possibly win another conference championship.”
Sherritt is also excited on the return of junior Lyndsey Havens, who showed improvement last season and gained more experience under her belt. Havens has twice competed at the NCAA Zones competition and just missed out on reaching the finals of the three-meter board at the SEC Championships with a ninth place finish last year.
“Lyndsey is coming off a great year and I look for her to final on both boards at the SEC Championships and also make the NCAA Championships and earn a top 16 finish,” said Sherritt. “She has steadily improved every year and is moving in the right direction to possibly final at the NCAA Championships.
With three competitive divers returning to the fold, the USC women’s team looks to receive a boost at both the SEC and NCAA Championships from the diving squad that will position themselves for possible titles at the conference and national level.
