Men’s Swimming and Diving Finishes Ninth at ACC Championships

Feb. 28, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, MD – The Clemson men’s swimming and diving team concluded competition at the 2009 ACC Championships in ninth place with 196.5 points. The Tigers closed out the meet having set four school records in all, two on the final day of competition.Tom Recko headlined for the Tigers, taking a silver medal in the 200 backstroke in school-record time.

Recko, a junior from Wakefield, MA, lowered his school record to 1:43.01, as he earned his first career All-ACC selection as a silver-medalist in the 200 backstroke.

Chris Dart improved on his time from this morning in the 200 backstroke, posting a career-best 1:46.99, the third best time in Clemson history. The freshman won the bonus consolation final to place 17th overall in the event.

The Tigers had a strong contingent in the 200 fly. Sophomore David Gordon led all Clemson finishers in the event with a 1:47.80, tying him for tenth. His time is the second-best in Clemson history. Joe Knecht also picked up points, finishing 14th with a 1:49.02, the second-best time of his career.

Brian Possee won the bonus consolation final heat with a career-best 1:48.42. The time places him in Clemson’s all-time top ten as well. Matt Angelini can make the same claim after finishing 18th with a 1:48.70. Freshman Harry Foster also competed in the heat, placing 23rd with a 1:53.02.

In the 1650 free, freshman Eric Lane won the bonus consolation final heat of the 200 breast after posting a 2:01.41, the fourth-best time in Clemson history.

Clemson’s 400 free relay group of Seth Broster, Oliver, Reinke, and Dart had the second-best time in Clemson history. Broster led off with a 44.35, the fifth-best in Clemson history. The group took seventh overall with their NCAA-B 2:57.59.

In other Clemson swimming and diving action, Stephanie Fura earned her NCAA Zone qualifying score at the UGA last chance meet by posting a 278.05 on the one-meter boards. The Tigers’ 200 free group also competed, as did freshman Kelli Kyle in the 100 backstroke.

Both teams will await word on whether their NCAA-B times will be considered for NCAA competition. Additionally, Leslie Hasselbach will take five divers to NCAA Zone championships in Knoxville, TN. The divers hit marks during the season to qualify for Zones and if they perform well at the Zone meet, will travel to College Station, TX for the NCAA championships.