Swimming and Diving Notes

March 31, 1998

Two Lady Tigers Earn All-American Mention–Clemson women’s swimmers Jennifer Mihalik and Erin Schatz were both named All-Americans for the 1997-98 season.Both competed in the 1998 NCAA Swimming Championships at Minneapolis, MN on March 19-21. They led the Lady Tigers to a 35th place team finish for the national meet.

It was the first time since the 1992 season that Clemson had two All-Americans in women’s swimming in the same season.

Mihalik finished 15th in the nation with a time of 2:00.24 in the finals of the 200-yard backstroke. She won the ACC Championship in the event last month in competition at the University of Virginia. She is also Clemson’s first All-American in the 200 back since 1989 when Jill Bakehorn earned All-America honors at the NCAA meet.Mihalik also finished in the 50 freestyle with a personal best time of 23.32, landing her 36th in the preliminaries. She swam in the 100 backstroke (56.30) placing 29th in the preliminaries.

Schatz finished 16th in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:33.05. It moved her into third place all-time on the Clemson to time list. She is Clemson’s first All-American in the 1650 free since 1992 when Michelle Richardson earned All-America honors in the event. Erin Schatz also posted a 4:49.93 in the 500 freestyle, finishing 23rd.

Freshman Represents Clemson at the NCAA Champiohnsips–Razvan Petcu represented the Clemson Men’s Swimming and Diving teamthis past weekend, March 26-28 in Auburn, AL at the Men’s NCAA Championships.

He is the first Clemson Tiger to compete in three events at the NCAA Championships as a freshman Razvan Petcuis aslo the first Clemson Tiger to compete in three events since 1988 when Rick Aronberg competed in the 200, 500, and 1650-yard freestyle. Petcu competed in the 50-yard freestyle (20.28) 100-yard butterfly (48.73) and 100-yard freestyle (43.88).

The freshman from Ploiesti, Romania is the only Tiger from the men’s squad to be ranked among the College Swimming Coaches Association of America’s College Quick 25 poll this season. He is also currently ranked in the final poll as #14th in the 100 freestyle.

ACC Champions–Jennifer Mihalik and Razvan Petcu claimed ACC titles at the Atlantic Coastal Conference Championships held in Charlottesvill, VA on February 19-21 and 26-28 . Mihalik set an ACC record in the 200-yards backstroke with a time of 1:58.77, an All-Time Clemson best.

Petcu broke the UVa Aquatic and Fitness Center pool record in the 100-yards freestyle, the best in Clemson history with a 43.82.

Five Tigers Named All-ACC Swimmers–Five Tigers received All-ACC honors, two of whom were for indiviual events and three for two relays.

Wendy Henson placed second in the 200-yard freestyle with a season best time of 1:49.04. Henson is also a member of the two relays, the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle that earned honors. Along with teammates Erin Schatz, Charli Reasons and Jennifer Mihalik they produced a record breaking times in the 200-yard freestyle (1:32.70) and 400-yard freestyle (3:22.45), the best in Clemson history.

Razvan Petcu swam a 47.99 in the 100 butterfly, landing the number one spot in Clemson history.

1997-98 Season Ends–The women’s swimming and diving team closed the season with a 9-2 record, three of the victories were against ranked teams Auburn, Cincinnati and Miami. They were 2-1 in the ACC and 35th in the nation.

The Lady Tigers were ranked in seven out of eight Speedo America’s College Swimming Coaches Association Top 25 Coaches Poll this season ranging from #17 to 23rd.

The men’s squad ended with a 5-8 overall record and 1-3 in the ACC.

CSCAAC Poll–In College Swimming Coaches Association of America’s College Quick 25 final release Clemson holds eight of the fatsest times in the ountry.Three of these times consist of relays, while the other five are individual top times. Erin Schatz holds a total of three individual times on the list; the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle, as well as being a member of one of the relays

Tigers Break 38 Records–The Clemson Swimming and Diving team broke a total of 38 records, 13 men and 25 women.

Razvan Petcu holds the most records of the season with number-one spots in the 50 free (20.11), 100 free (43.82) and 1000 butterfly (47.99). Petcu is also a member of the 200 free relay (1:21.48) and 200 medley relay, along with Tim Collis, Mike Pridemore and Alejandro Dubreuil. The 200 free relay team moved into second place on Clemson All-Time Top 10 list.and the 200 medley time is the best in Clemson history.

Jennifer Mihalik leads the ladies list with seven spots on the Clemson All-Time Top 10 list, two being relay positions. Mihalik holds the third spot on the 50 free (23.32), 100 free (50.50) and 100 back (56.18). She’s number one in the 200 back with a time of 1:58.77 and eighth in the 200 free with 1:50.26. Mihalik shares the best times in Clemson history with teammates Kathy Lowry, Charli Reasons and Wendy Henson in the 400 free relay (1:32.70) and 200 free relay (3:22.45).