Clemson Swimming and Diving Plays Host to North Carolina State

Jan. 27, 2005

The Clemson men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will play host to North Carolina State on Saturday at the McHugh Natatorium at 11 a.m. in the Tigers’ final Atlantic Coast Conference action of the regular season.

Both Clemson teams are coming off losses to Georgia Tech last weekend. The loss drops the men’s record to 4-7 overall, and 1-4 in the ACC, while the women fell to 5-7 overall, and 1-4 in conference action.

The Clemson men are led by senior Tommy Rappold, who has set an NCAA “B” Qualifying Time in the 100 fly with his mark of 47.76 at the Nike Cup. Freshman Mark Vahle has continued to perform well, earning a “B” Qualifying Time of 20.30 in the 50 free. Freshman Sean Geary is the only other Tiger swimmer to post a Qualifying Time with his mark of 15:32.73 in the 1650 free at the Nike Cup. Eric Shulick has qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in the one-meter diving event with his score of 312.08 against North Carolina. Shulick is the defending ACC Champion in one-meter competition. Shulick, along with junior Marsh Lindley, have both qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in the three-meter event as Shulick scored 506.55 and Lindley 493.40 at the Nike Cup.

The Lady Tigers are led by junior All-American Kim Routh. Routh has set NCAA “B” Qualifying Times in the 200 free (1:50.07) and the 1650 free (16:27.43). Junior Shastain Leathers has qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in both the one- and three-meter diving events. Leathers mark of 270.45 in the one-meter competition against Virginia, and her score of 437.95 in the three-meter event at the Nike Cup set zone qualifying marks.

North Carolina State enters the meet with a men’s record of 3-3 overall, 2-2 in the ACC, and a women’s record of 5-4, 2-3 in ACC action. The Wolfpack men’s team is coming off wins over Maryland and Villanova and a loss to Pittsburgh two weeks ago, while the women defeated Villanova, but suffered losses to Maryland and Pittsburgh at the same four-team meet.

Last season, Clemson defeated North Carolina State in men’s action by a score of 138-103, while the Lady Tigers lost to the Wolfpack 125-118 at a meet in Raleigh.

Clemson is under the leadership of head coach Chris Ip in his third season. In his two previous seasons at Clemson, Ip has led the Tiger men and women to records of 20-6-1 and 17-11 respectively. Ip has coached seven athletes to appearances in the NCAA Championship and four ACC event champions.