Swimming & Diving Returns Home for Three-Straight Dual Meets
1/24/2003 9:36:24 AM | Swimming / Diving
Home Stand
The Syracuse swimming and diving team hosts Connecticut on Sat., Jan. 25, in the first of three consecutive weekends that the Orange will entertain BIG EAST opponents in dual-meet action. It is the first home swim meet for the Orange since October 19, against Colgate.
Time Change
Next Saturday's meet against Seton Hall has been changed to a 2:00 p.m. start. On Feb. 1, the diving and swimming events will start at 2 p.m. Diving will be held at the Sibley Pool in the women's building, while swimming will take place at Webster Pool.
Winter Training in Puerto Rico
The Orangemen and Orangewomen swimmers traveled to Puerto Rico to train in the early part of January. Swimming at a facility with a 10-lane, 50-meter pool, the team was able to spread out and get workouts in for all of its swimmers.
New Swimmer Joins the Team
Freshman Mike Gavan joined the Syracuse swim team this month. A native of Clayton, California, Gavan will help the men's swimming team in the 400 individual medley, his best event. He can also contribute in the 200 butterfly and some longer freestyle events. He comes from the same hometown as teammate Josh Scott and swam for the mighty Terrapin Swim Team.
Series Against Connecticut
Syracuse will be looking to avenge its losses from a season ago against Connecticut. On the men's side, the Huskies defeated the Orangemen, 162-75, last year in Storrs. The Orangewomen were beaten, 138.5 - 100.5. Last year was the first time that the SU men ever lost to the Huskies in a dual meet. The Orangemen own a 14-1 advantage in the all-time series. The SU women are 10-4 against Connecticut all-time.
Last Time Out
The women's team improved its dual-meet record this season to 6-0 following a 131-106 victory against West Virginia at the WVU Natatorium last Saturday. The Orangemen lost a 133.5 - 109.5 decision to the Mountaineers. The SU men are 4-2 this season in dual-meet action.
For Connecticut, this will be its first official meet since Dec. 8, at the Yale Invitational.
Jonusaitis Records Personal-Best Time at WVU
Senior Jennifer Jonusaitis recorded a personal-best time in the women's 200-yard individual medley against West Virginia last Saturday. The team co-captain, who set a Webster Pool record earlier this season in the 100 breaststroke, finished second behind teammate Elyse McDonough in the 200 IM against the Mountaineers. Her time of 2:11.49 was not only a personal-best, it was also faster than the BIG EAST "B" qualifying standard in that event.
McDonough Unbeaten in 19 Consecutive Dual-Meet Races, Has Won 20 of her Last 21
Junior co-captain Elyse McDonough rarely loses an individual race during dual meets. So far this season, she is a perfect 10-for-10, finishing first in every one of her individual dual-meet races. Her streak dates back to last season when she finished second in the 200 IM to the Webster Pool record holder, Marina Mulyayeva, of Florida Atlantic. Since that Nov. 3, 2001 dual meet against the FAU Owls, McDonough has rattled off 19 consecutive first-place finishes (in a total of 10 dual meets).
Wrede Perfect in Backstroke Events this Season
Sophomore Rachel Wrede has won all five individual backstroke races she has swam in for the Orangewomen during dual meets this season. Against West Virginia, she was first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:07.78, her second-fastest time in that event this year. Her top time of 2:07.56 was achieved at the Nike Cup.
Nothing But First Place for Wittich in Distance Freestyle Events
Freshman Lisa Wittich is making a name for herself in the distance freestyle events for the Orangewomen. She has won all nine individual races she has been entered in this season. She won the 1,000 and 500 freestyle events against St. Bonaventure, Colgate and West Virginia. At Loyola, she won the 1,650 freestyle, the 500 freestyle and the 200 freestyle.
SU Men's Divers Perform Well at West Virginia
SU divers controlled the men's one-meter board at WVU. Freshman Tony Campagna posted a score of 308.10 to win the event, while teammates Ricky Rodriguez and Dewey Schultz finished second and third respectively with scores of 290.62 and 287.40. Schultz was first on the men's three-meter board with a score of 301.25.
