Swimming And Diving Teams Down South Carolina

Nov. 12, 1999

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Clemson men’s and women’s swimming teams defeated South Carolina on Friday afternoon at the Carolina Natatorium. On the men’s side, the Gamecocks were leading by a score of 115-111 going into the last event, but the Tigers took the top two places in the 400 free relay to win the meet 126-117. The team of Kenny Roberts, Rob Etheridge, Chris Moro and Will Rogers placed first with a time of 3:04.89 in the event, followed by the Tiger team of Brett Walker, Dan DiMarzio, Ryan Pizagno and Mike Pridemore in second with a time of 3:10.18.

The Tigers also took first place in the 400 medley relay to open the meet. Adam Porter, Sean Wallace, Matt Stone and Rogers won the event with a time of 3:25.27. Walker won the 50 free in 21.36, and Matt Wilson won the 200 IM in 1:53.23.

In the diving events, Andy Garrett was the Tigers’ top finisher in third place on the three-meter board. Craig Thomas finished third on the one-meter board to lead Clemson.

The Clemson women’s team took a 165-77 win over South Carolina, winning all but three events at the meet. The Tigers’ 400 medley relay team of Nina Douglas, Mandy Commons, Katie Mizell and Caroline Peterson placed first with a time of 3:55.27, while the 400 free relay team of Leslie Anderson, Catherine Blaney, Jenna Burtch and Peterson won the event in 3:32.39.

Burtch and Courtney Ellis, both freshmen, were dual winners for the Tigers. Burtch won the 50 free in 23.92 and the 100 free in 51.92, while Ellis won the 200 IM in 2:07.82 and the 200 breast in 2:24.16. Other freshmen winners for Clemson included Blaney in the 200 free (1:53.67) and Liz Dwors in the 500 free (4:56.59).

Senior Erin Cumbie won the 200 fly in 2:06.70, and junior Betsy Potter one the one-meter diving competition. Potter also placed second in the three-meter diving competition.

The Clemson men’s team holds a 2-0 overall record and is 1-0 in the ACC. The women’s team is 1-1, 0-1 ACC. The women’s team will compete against Michigan and Ohio State in Ann Arbor, MI, on November 19. The men’s team will compete in the Spartanburg Invitational November 19-21.