Nov. 17, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina swimming and diving teams return to action this weekend competing at the 2005 Texas A&M Fall Invitational. The meet is scheduled to run from Friday, Nov. 18-Sunday, Nov. 20 with Carolina facing some of the top teams across the country. The men will battle fourth ranked Michigan, LSU and SMU with the women competing against eighth ranked SMU, 13th ranked Texas A&M, 14th ranked Michigan, Houston, LSU and Tulane.
“I think our team has come back from the Clemson dual meet training hard and looking forward to this competition,” said USC head coach Don Gibb. “Our team has consistently been challenged at the highest level already this year and this meet will be no different. It’s a snapshot for championship meets in a great venue with a great racing environment. I fully expect some kids to have top times coming out of this weekend.”
All races will be conducted in a 25-yard course. The women will swim events first with the men following. Preliminaries begin on Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. CT with Sunday’s prelims scheduled for 9:30 a.m. CT. The finals on Friday and Saturday are set for 6 p.m. CT with Sunday’s beginning at 4:30 p.m. CT.
The Student Recreation Center Natatorium in College Station is no stranger to the Carolina swimming program though, as two years ago it was site of one of the top team performances in school history. At the 2004 NCAA Championships, the women’s team came away with an 11th place finish, second highest in school history and diver Allison Brennan won Carolina’s first NCAA individual title on the one-meter springboard.
“It’s a fast, deep pool and the waves disappear into the gutters, just a quality forum to compete in,” said Gibb. “We had a pretty good year there two years ago with the way our women competed and it’s where Allison won an NCAA championship.”
ORDER OF EVENTS
Friday Nov. 18
200 Freestyle Relay
500 Freestyle
200 IM
50 Freestyle
1-Meter Diving
400 Medley Relay
Saturday Nov. 19
200 Medley Relay
400 IM
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
3-Meter Diving
800 Freestyle Relay
Sunday Nov. 20
1650 Freestyle
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
Platform Diving
400 Freestyle Relay
TOP TIMES
Both the men’s and women’s teams feature swimmers at the top of the pack in several different events. On the men’s side, sophomore Dan White leads the way in the distance events with Carolina’s top time in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle. Also with three top times for the men’s team is junior Colby Mack, who leads the team in the 100 and 200 freestyle as well as the 100 butterfly. Senior captains Reid Duff and Justin Kata own two top times apiece. Duff is the leader in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke with Kata putting up top times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Sophomore Kyle Cormier has come out in front in both individual medleys for Carolina. Also among the fastest are Tamas Bathazi, Sean Murray, and both Ian Balman and David Ovelson in diving.
Sophomore swimmer Christy Williams highlights the women’s squad leading the team in four events. Williams owns the fastest times in the 200 and 500 freestyle to go along with the 100 and 200 butterfly. Both of Williams’ times in the 100 and 200 butterfly were set at the SMU women’s classic and hit the NCAA “B” standard. Sophomore Carly Hensel is also having early success with three top times in both the 100 and 200 backstroke as well as the 200 IM. Freshman swimmer Amanda Dunnigan has provided a strong boost in her first season as the leader in the 400 IM and 200 breaststroke. Also holding top times are Mallory Deighan, Heather Roffey, Haley Skaggs, Heather Skaggs and Lindsey Tiberio. Senior diver Allison Brennan has scored highest on both the one-meter and three-meter boards.
Men’s Team
50 Freestyle: Reid Duff (21.19)
100 Freestyle: Colby Mack (46.53)
200 Freestyle: Colby Mack (1:41.03)
500 Freestyle: Dan White (4:36.56)
1000 Freestyle: Dan White (9:22.64)
1650 Freestyle: Dan White (16:14.01)
100 Butterfly: Colby Mack (51.58)
200 Butterfly: Tamas Bathazi (1:56.48)
100 Backstroke: Reid Duff (51.67)
200 Backstroke: Sean Murray (1:55.54)
200 IM: Kyle Cormier (1:57.64)
400 IM: Kyle Cormier (4:12.55)
100 Breaststroke: Justin Kata (58.54)
200 Breaststroke: Justin Kata (2:08.87)
1-Meter Diving: David Ovelson (355.65)
3-Meter Diving: Ian Balman (393.08)
Women’s Team
50 Freestyle: Heather Skaggs (23.63)
100 Freestyle: Haley Skaggs (51.82)
200 Freestyle: Christy Williams (1:50.59)
500 Freestyle: Christy Williams (4:54.70)
1000 Freestyle: Heather Roffey (10:17.20)
1650 Freestyle: Mallory Deighan (17:35.83)
100 Butterfly: Christy Williams (55.56)
200 Butterfly: Christy Williams (2:01.27)
100 Backstroke: Carly Hensel (58.56)
200 Backstroke: Carly Hensel (2:04.88)
200 IM: Carly Hensel (2:06.35)
400 IM: Amanda Dunnigan (4:23.14)
100 Breaststroke: Lindsey Tiberio (1:03.29)
200 Breaststroke: Amanda Dunnigan (2:20.78)
1-Meter Diving: Allison Brennan (348.75)
3-Meter Diving: Allison Brennan (385.50)
