Clemson Swimming & Diving Sweeps Blue Devils

Feb. 3, 2007

Clemson, SC- The Clemson Swimming and Diving teams hosted their last meet of the dual meet season Saturday as they took on the Duke Blue Devils in McHugh Natatorium. The seniors for the Tigers won six individual events, and seven more were involved in relay wins. Clemson’s men’s team defeated Duke by a score of 170-121 to improve to 9-3 (4-3 ACC) on the year. The Lady Tigers reached the 10 win plateau as they finished 10-5 (4-4 ACC) with a 174-126 win versus Duke.

The class of 2003-04 had a big impact on the men’s side as Joel Johnson, Brett MacLennan, Jay Crout, and Brian Regone started off the meet with a victory in the 200 medley relay (1:32.83). They finished just in front of teammates Taylor Thompson, Attila Ruszka, Adam Farnham, and Mark Vahle for a 1-2 start for the Tigers. Sean Geary (9:41.13), Daniel Mengering (9:50.56), and Andrew Cunningham (9:50.90) followed that with a sweep of the 1000 freestyle. Regone (1:43.92) picked up his second victory of the day as he took the win in the 200 freestyle. Not to be outdone, Johnson (50.59) immediately claimed his second win of the day in the next event, the 100 backstroke. Brian Possee grabbed first place in the 200 butterfly with a season best time of 1:53.17. Bryce Herrington, another member of the 2003-04 class, placed first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.50. MacLennan (46.49) sprinted to his second win of the day in the 100 freestyle, and was followed by Crout’s second victory of the day in the 200 backstroke (1:55.01). Possee (4:37.17) took his second win of the day in the 500 freestyle with another season best time. Mark Vahle was the top Tiger in the 100 butterfly as he finished first with a time of 50.81. Clemson had some success on the boards as well. Marco Raye (293.40 points) and David Giambra (290.10) spun to a 1-2 finish on the three-meter board. The Tigers closed out the meet with another 1-2 finish, this time in the 200 freestyle relay. The team of Vahle, Thompson, Possee, and Matt Balderston finished first with a time of 1:24.08, just ahead of Regone, Herrington, Johnson, and Crout (1:24.47).

On the women’s side, Sarah Cefalu, Katrina Obas, Jen Grove, and Lauren Sindall took the win with a time of 1:47.45 in the 200 medley relay. Next, Summer O’Donnell (10:24.98) and Carlyn Sander (10:28.78) teamed to take the top two spots in the 1000 freestyle. Cassy LaRussa (1:54.16) won going away in the 200 freestyle in the third event, and the Lady Tigers never looked back. Michelle Parkhurst (57.92) claimed her first win of the day in the 100 backstroke, while senior captain Mary Paulsen (59.42) took third. Senior Kallie Deters (24.18) finished first, and Parkhurst (24.77) took second in the 50 freestyle. Rachel Regone picked up her first win of the day in the 100 freestyle as she finished with a time of 51.91. Deters (55.11) placed third. Parkhurst (5:07.85), Toni Kroll (5:09.40), and Sander (5:10.27) took the top three spots in the 500 freestyle for the Lady Tigers.

The women also had some success on the three-meter board as Danielle Kazilionis (270.75 points) dove to victory. Kelly Gillis had her best meet of the season as she posted season bests in the 400 IM (4:30.19) to place first, and 200 backstroke (2:06.94) to take second. In the final event of the day, the 200 freestyle relay, Clemson closed it out in style with a 1-2 finish. The team of Mary Paulsen, Rachel Regone, Toni Kroll, and Deters took first with a time of 1:38.11, just in front of senior Sarah Cefalu, Sindall, LaRussa, and Crina Aeschbacher who touched the wall in 1:38.25.

The Lady Tigers will next be in action as they travel to Chapel Hill, NC for the ACC Championships from February 14-17. The men’s team will make a trip to Chapel Hill for their championships a week later, February 21-24.