Clemson Sprint Champion Ready For National Championships

March 21, 2006

Clemson, SC- Sophomore Mark Vahle will be traveling to the NCAA Championships this weekend as the lone competitor for the Clemson Men’s Swimming and Diving team. The meet will be held at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta, GA from March 23-25. The preliminary heats will start at noon, and the championships finals will begin at 7 pm.

Vahle (Quincy, IL) turned in a school record in the 50 freestyle during the 2006 ACC Championships. His time of 19.66 during the preliminary heats smashed the old record by almost two tenths of a second. He earned the silver medal during the championship finals of the event. Along with the 50 freestyle, Vahle will also be competing in the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Clemson has sent participants from the men’s team to the NCAA Championships. The Tigers finished in a tie for 35th during the 2003-04 campaign.