2004-05 Swimming Team Captains Announced
8/30/2004 11:18:51 AM | Swimming / Diving
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Head swimming coach Lou Walker announced that senior Elisa James and junior Lisa Wittich would serve as captains of the 2004-05 women's swimming team, while seniors Mike Anstrom, Josh Scott and junior Rob Persico were voted captains of the men's team for the upcoming season.
It will be the second consecutive season in the roles for Wittich and Anstrom. James, Scott and Persico are first-time captains for the Orange.
Persico was chosen as the MVP of the men's team last season. He was fifth in the 400 individual medley at the 2004 BIG EAST Championship, sixth in the 200 backstroke and 10th in the 500 freestyle. He posted a season-best time of 3:58.52 in the 400 IM and an Orange top time of 1:50.19 in the 200 backstroke at the conference meet.
Wittich received the Robert and Pat Barlow Award for academic and athletic excellence and the "Coaches Choice for Most Improved" swimmer last season. She was one of the Orange's top competitors, winning bronze in the 500 freestyle at the 2004 BIG EAST Championship with a school-record time of 4:51.35. She also placed seventh in the 200-yard freestyle and swam with SU's 800 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay teams.
James has been a consistent BIG EAST scorer for the Syracuse women during her career. Last season, she scored points in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:04.88 to finish 12th at the conference championship meet.
Anstrom and Scott have been leaders on the men's team since their freshmen campaigns. Anstrom contributed important points at the BIG EAST Championship last season in the 100 butterfly, the 50 freestyle and three relays. Scott is a strong freestyler who has been among the league's top performers in the 200 and 500 freestyle events since he arrived at SU. Scott finished eighth in the evening finals of the 500 freestyle at last year's BIG EAST Championship with a time of 4:36.13. He was seventh in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:39.49. He helped SU's 800 freestyle relay team to a fourth-place finish in a season-best time of 6:42.67.
Practice for the 2004-05 swimming season begins on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Competition opens at home on Saturday, Oct. 9 when SU hosts the Syracuse Chargers in a dual-meet that is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. at Ted Webster Pool.
