Clemson Swimming and Diving Sweeps Blue Devils

Feb. 4, 2006

Durham, NC- The Clemson Swimming and Diving teams traveled to Durham, NC and came away with two wins against Duke Saturday at Taishoff Aquatics Pavilion. In the last dual meet of the season, the Lady Tigers defeated the Blue Devils 153.5-129.5, and the Clemson men’s team downed Duke by a score of 144-132. Both Clemson teams improved to 3-4 in the ACC with the win.

The Lady Tigers were led to their fourth straight victory behind senior diver Shastin Leathers. Leathers won the one-meter (272.40), and the three-meter boards (273.43) for Clemson. Three other seniors won individual events for the Lady Tigers. Ashley Shafer captured the win in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.38), Nikki Deering won the 100 butterfly (58.24), and Kim Routh swam her way to victory in the 500 freestyle (5:00.99). Cassy LaRussa (10:16.59), Summer O’Donnell (10:23.36), and Whitney Sandison (10:28.73) finished 1-2-3 in the 1000 freestyle. Freshman Whitney Sandison (2:10.36) finished second, and Jen Grove (2:10.72) placed third.

The men were led by Stephen Russell and Paul Berger as they each won two individual events. Berger won the one-meter (234.95) and three-meter (244.65) diving competitions. Russell captured wins in the 100 butterfly (51.35) and the 500 freestyle (4:48.95) for Clemson. Juniors Joel Johnson and Bryce Herrington finished 1-2 in the 100 back with times of 50.92 and 52.17, respectively. Andy Bergren (58.17) and Brett MacLennan (59.24) also finished 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke. Jonathan Mengering (9:38.46), Sean Geary (9:52.22), and Attila Ruszka (10:05.16) swept the top three spots in the 1000 freestyle. Freshman Eric Pinno (21.70) won the 50 freestyle. Fellow freshman Brian Possee (1:55.16) captured the win in the 200 butterfly. Herrington (46.62) and Pinno (47.88) teamed up to finish 1-2 in the 100 freestyle.

Clemson is now 5-6 overall on the women’s side, and 5-5 on the men’s side. The Lady Tigers will next be in action February 15-18 in College Park, MD for the ACC Championships. The men will take a trip to Maryland a week later from February 22-25 for their ACC Championships.