Clemson Swimming and Diving Opens Season Sunday

Oct. 5, 2007

The Clemson Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams will open up their respective seasons on Sunday, October 7, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at McHugh Natatorium. This will be the first meet of the season for both teams.

The women’s swimming and diving team is coming off a 10-5 (4-4 ACC) season in which they finished 5th in the ACC. They return two school record holders in Rachel Regone and Michelle Parkhurst, along with five other Clemson all-time top-ten swimmers. Senior Dani Kazilionis and juniors Stephanie Fura and Ali Zacker lead the divers.

The women fell to the Hokies 196-156 in 2006-07 in a four-team meet in Charlottesvilla, Va. The loss was only the second all-time to the Hokies, as the Tigers are 11-2 in the series. On Oct. 27-28, 2006. Rachel Regone finished fourth in the 100 free. The 200 free relay team also finished fourth.

The men’s swimming and diving team returns two school record holders in senior Attila Ruszka and Mark Vahle, in addition to at least one all-time top-ten swimmer in every event. The 2006-07 team was 9-3, with a 4-3 record in the ACC. Divers Marco Raye and David Giambra both return on the boards for the Tigers.

The Tigers defeated Virginia Tech last season in Charlottesville by a score of 191-162 and are 13-1 all-time against the Hokies. The 200 free relay team of Vahle, Brian Regone, Matt Balderston, and Adam Farnham placed first at the meet. Ruszka had a second place finish in the 200 IM, while Adam Farnham placed second in the 100 fly.

The teams also feature some heralded newcomers, including Rutgers transfer Alexandra Allen, freshman Margaret Mizelle, distance swimmer David Gordon, and Sarah Smith, another freshman distance swimmer. The freshman class will contribute right away and push the veterans.

This will be the first true test for the Tigers in 2007-08. The team held an intrasquad on Sept. 29 as a tune-up. After this meet, the Tigers will get a chance to scout out the ACC Championship pool as they travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Alabama on October 13, 2007.