Clemson Swimming and Diving Releases 2006-07 Schedule

Sept. 8, 2006

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson Swimming and Diving programs announced their schedule for the 2006-07 campaign. In 2005-06, the Lady Tigers finished the year 5-6 (3-4 ACC) and finished 6th at the ACC Championships, but are returning 23 letter winners. The group includes 75% of the 800 freestyle relay that finished second at the ACC meet a year ago. The Lady Tigers finished 28th at the 2006 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, and were ranked 20th in the CSCAA Academic rankings among Division I programs.

The men’s team completed the tough `05-`06 season 5-5 after facing four top 25 opponents. For the fourth year in a row, the men’s team was represented at the NCAA Championships, and ranked 55th from the CSCAA of all Division I programs. The Tigers return two school record holders to this year’s squad with Mark Vahle (50 free, 19.66) and Attila Ruszka (100 breast, 55.14).

After the Orange & White meet to start the season Sept. 29, both Tiger programs will travel to Florida State, and then to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Miami (FL) women. This will be Clemson’s first ever meeting with the Eagles from Boston College. Two weeks later (Oct. 27-28), the Tigers will travel to Charlottesville, VA for a showdown with Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Penn State. All-time, the Lady Tigers are 0-1 against Penn State, 11-0 vs. Virginia Tech, and 12-15 vs. Virginia. The men have had similar results against these teams, going 0-1 vs. Penn State, 10-1 vs. VT, and 12-26 vs. Virginia all-time. After a bout in Columbia with in-state rival South Carolina Nov. 3, the teams will again participate in the Nike Cup, an event the men won just a year ago.

Over the Christmas break, the Tiger divers will be at the Georgia Diving Invitational in Athens, GA from January 2-4, and Clemson will face FAU in Boca Raton, FL on January 3.

The home meets will start Jan. 11 when Gardner-Webb and Davidson come to town for a Thursday night match-up. Two days later, the Tar Heels roll into Tiger town. Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 will bring N.C. State and Duke to McHugh Natatorium, respectively. The women’s ACC Championships will be held in Chapel Hill, NC from Feb. 14-17, and the NCAA Championships will be Mar. 8-10. The men’s ACC Championships will also be in Chapel Hill from Feb. 21-24 and the NCAA Championships will be from Mar. 15-17. Both NCAA meets will be held in Minneapolis, MN at the University of Minnesota. The Tiger divers will have to take a trip back to Athens, GA for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships Mar. 2-4.

In all, the men’s team will face eight ACC foes while the women will face nine in the 2006-07 season. Coach Chris Ip had this to say about the schedule.

“We are excited to have put together a schedule that provides us experience in many different conferences. We will not only be competing against ACC teams, but also against the SEC and Big 10. With the addition of Miami, Boston College, and Virginia Tech, it has been a challenge putting a balanced schedule together. We are a bit lopsided having most of our away meets during the fall semester and most of the home meets in the spring. However, there is an advantage to competing in dual meets in front of the home crowd coming down the stretch towards the ACC Championships.”