Women’s Swimming & Diving Travels to the ACC Championships Wednesday

Feb. 18, 2008

Head swimming and diving Coach Chris Ip will lead the women’s swimming team and both the men’s and women’s diving teams to Atlanta this weekend to compete in the ACC Championships from Feb. 20-23. The meet is held at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, the former Olympic facility.

The women’s team closed out the dual meet season at 8-7, 3-5 ACC, with all five conference losses coming to nationally ranked opponents. The team competed at this facility on October 13, 2007, downing Georgia Tech and falling to Alabama and Florida State.

Last season, 13 season-best times were set at the ACC championships in the Tigers’ fifth-place finish, so it figures to be a fast meet. The Tigers’ 200 free relay squad set an ACC meet and Koury Pool record last season at the ACC Championships in Chapel Hill. Swimmers will be equipped with their racing suits, which repels water more easily than a regular suit, often leading to faster times.

Diving Coach Stephanie Fura and Danielle Kazilionis should figure strongly into the final standing. On the Men’s side, David Giambra set the school record earlier this season, and Marco Raye was not far behind.

The ACC will have live results posted during the meets and more information can be found at http://www.theacc.com/sports/c-swim/08-sd-championship.html. Also, the finals each day will be broadcast on ACC Select (www.accselect.com).

Record Watch:

50 Free: Rachel Regone will try and improve on her school-record 22.68 in the 50 free. She will also have an opportunity as the lead-off time in the 200 free counts toward the 50 free times.

100 and 200 back: Michelle Parkhurst holds both school records and has come very close to each time already this season. She could have a break-out meet as she finished in the top 20 times of eleven different events in the ACC this season.

200 free relay: Regone, Parkhurst, Lauren Sindall and departed senior Kallie Deters teamed up to win the ACC in this event last year, setting an ACC meet and pool record in the process. Alexandra Allen joins these three as they set a Nike Cup record 1:31.16 in the event earlier this season.

The 2008 Men’s ACC Championships will take place from Feb. 27 – Mar. 1 at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center.