Swimming & Diving to Open the Season Friday

Oct. 4, 2005

The Clemson Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Teams will open their seasons against Virginia Tech this Friday, October 7, at 3:00 pm. The Tigers will be starting their season against an ACC opponent for the second consecutive year.

The Lady Tigers are coming off of a strong finish to the 2004-05 season where they won three out of their last four meets. They continued on to place seventh at the ACC Championships where they were led by double gold medalist Kim Routh. Routh also went on to the NCAA Championships where she took home a 13th place finish in the 500 yard free and a 15th place finish in the 1650 yard free.

For the 2005-06 season Coach Chris Ip believes that depth will be the strength of the Lady Tigers.

“We only lost two seniors last year so we have a full squad coming back with the addition of our freshman. I am looking forward to hitting a lot of different events from a lot of different angles. We will be solid from our number one swimmer in the event down to the number four swimmer.”

The Clemson women’s team will be led by a strong core of seniors. Joining Routh will be Ashley Shafer, Nicole Carlton, Kelly Urso, Sarah Beth Wippermann, Nikki Deering, and divers Shastin Leathers, Jess Watcke, and Emilie Wells. Routh and Leathers hold Clemson records in the 1650 yard free and 1-meter diving, respectively.

The Clemson men’s team is also looking to improve on its 6-7 dual meet record from last year. They were able to win their last two meets and carry that momentum to a fifth place finish at the 2005 ACC Championships. The Tigers will look for strong senior leadership and young talent to carry them through the upcoming season.

Senior captain Jonathan Mengering, a triple ACC scorer from a year ago, will join with fellow captain Jay Crout to help prepare the Tigers for the tough road to College Park, MD, site of the 2006 ACC Championships. Seniors Jordan Raynovich (IM), Greg Middleton (free), Charlie Dillon (back, free), Ben Kanoy (fly), and Marsh Lindley (diving) will look to be the spark to ignite the new season.

The Tigers and the Hokies last met in a dual meet in 2003-04, when the Tigers swept the meet with the men winning 153.5-89.5, and the women winning 127-116.