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Feb. 24, 2009
THIS WEEK
The Utah swimming and diving team is traveling to Oklahoma City to compete in the 2009 Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships Wednesday,until Friday.
SEASON REVIEW
The Utah women's swimming and diving team ended the 2008-2009 regular season in third place in the MWC, falling slightly short of it's place in the pre-season MWC coaches poll as the team was originally picked to tie for second with UNLV.
The Utes got some quality non-conference wins at the beginning of the season, defeating then 24th-ranked Washington and a strong team from Denver. The team then went on a seven-meet win streak that wasn't broken until after the winter break against TCU. In the meet against the Horned Frogs, the Utes tied for the first time in school history.
Also, in the first half of the season the Utes headed to the Princeton Invite, where they broke five MWC individual records. Whitney Lopus (Scottsdale, Ariz.) broke the 200 free, 500 free, 100 fly, and 200 fly records and Hannah Caron (Raleigh, N.C.) broke the 200 IM record. Utah also broke two MWC relay records in the 400 free relay and 800 free relay. Maiya Otsuka (Littleton, Colo.) broke the Utah school record in the 200 breast as well.
In the second half of the season the Ute women lost to Colorado State and BYU. The Utes are looking to avenge the losses to the Rams and the Cougars at the MWC Championships this week.
The Utah men's swimming and diving team continued to improve throughout this season, finishing tied for fourth with TCU and Air Force for the regular season. The Utes were originally picked to finish in fourth outright in the pre-season MWC coaches poll.
During the course of the season, the Utes saw improvements, falling just short of wins against Denver, Wyoming, and BYU. The Utah men did see their first win of the season against Air Force, defeating the Falcons 157-143.
The men also had record-breaking performances at the Princeton Invitational. Adam Oliver (Colorado Springs, Colo.) broke the Utah 1000 and 1650 free records, both which stood for over a decade. The rest of the team also put up season-best times in every event.
Both of Utah's men and women's teams will need to perform like they did at the Princeton Invite to pull off the upset and take home the MWC title.
UTE NOTES
WOMEN
Freestyle Events -
The Utes look to have an edge, literally and figuratively, over the competition in the free events. In the 50 free, Natalie Edge (South Jordan, Utah) holds the best time time in the conference in the at 22.92. Annie VanLeeuwen (West Valley City, Utah) has the third-best time at 23.40. Their biggest competition comes from Aleesha Miller from BYU and Marissa Campbell from New Mexico. Edge lost to Miller in the dual meet, but has put up a faster time than her this season at the Princeton Invite. Edge defeated Campbell in the dual meet against New Mexico, but to beat both of them at the championships Edge will need to put up Princeton Invite-like times.
Edge also has the conference-best in the 100 free at 49.96 with VanLeeuwen in third with her time of 50.44. The biggest threat to a win comes from Marva Harpak from UNLV. Edge beat her in the dual meet by almost a full second, but Harpak has had faster times since, making her a viable threat.
Lopus holds the MWC record time in the 200 free at 1:46.28, with Edge holding the fourth best at 1:49.58. Harpak looks to be tough competition in this event as well. Lopus defeated her in the early dual meet, but the both women have improved through the season.
Lopus also lead the MWC record in the 500 free with a time of 4:42.47. Also, in the top five in the 500 free are Shannon McQueen (Ottawa, Ontario) with her time of 4:54.95 at third in the conference and Kristina Helmers (Pennington, N.J.) in fourth with at time of 4:56.83. If Utah can compete at their top times, then they look to be strong favorites.
Helmers holds the second-best time in the 1650 free with her time of 17:05.47. She is second to BYU's Natasha Menezes. Menezes beat Utah in the distance events in the final dual meet of the season and looks to be strong heading into the meet.
Back Events -
Beth Gunderson (Portland, Ore.) currently holds the sixth-best time in 100 back in the MWC at 56.93. Her top time is mere tenths of a second behind the top performers. To be able to win, Gunderson will have to compete at her best.
McQueen holds the fourth-best time in the 200 back at 2:02.10. The top time is held by Candace Smith from BYU at 1:59.14. McQueen will have to follow Gunderson's game plan to pull off the upset.
Fly Events -
The fly events will be the Utah women's strongest individual event at the championships. Leading the way for the Utes is Lopus. In the 100 fly, Lopus holds the MWC record at 53.19. Right behind her is Caron with the second-fastest time of 53.58. Behind Caron is last year's MWC Champion, Jennifer Fredsall (Kearns, Utah)with a time of 55.83. If all three athletes are able to compete at their highest, then Utah could possibly sweep the top three spots in the event.
In the 200 fly, Lopus also holds the MWC record at 1:56.78. Caron also has the second-fastest time in this event with a time of 1:59.46. The toughest competition for the two will come from BYU's Rachel Grant. Grant defeated Lopus in the event in the final dual meet of the season, but hasn't been able to match Lopus or Caron's top times.
Utah Relays -
The Utah relays look to be the strongest in the conference. Utah currently owns the top time in all five of the relays that will be at the championships. The 200 free relay team of Edge, VanLeeuwen, Caron and Fredsall have a time of 1:32.28. The 200 free relay team has only lost twice this year in conference matchup to BYU and CSU. Both times the Utes had a different line-up than the top-time team.
In the 400 free relay, the team of Edge, VanLeeuwen, Lopus and Caron have the current MWC record at 3:18.71. Right behind them is the BYU relay team at 3:24.16. If the Utes can compete at the same level as they did when first setting the record, than it looks to be a sure win. BYU, however, has shown that they can compete, defeating the Utes in the final dual meet of the regular season.
The 800 free relay looks to be the surest of the events for the Utes. The team of Lopus, Edge, VanLeeuwen and Caron hold the MWC record at 7:13.62 and have not been defeated in conference matchups this season. The second-best time of the season belongs to the team from UNLV at 7:28.65.
In the 200 medley relay, the Utah team of Gunderson, VanLeeuwen, Lopus and Edge hold the top spot at 1:42.87. Behind them is Wyoming at 1:44.85. The Utes defeated the Cowgirls in the regular season dual meet and look to continue the trend this week.
Utah has the best time in the 400 medley relay as well. The team of Gunderson, Hewson, Lopus and Caron will have to compete at their top time to beat the team from BYU. The MWC Championships will be the first time the two teams meet.
Breast Events -
The Utes look to have some of the top competitors in the women's breast events. VanLeeuwen currently holds the MWC's top time in the 100 breast at 1:03.07 and behind her is Otsuka in third with a time of 1:04.41. Both times were at the Princeton Invite. In between them is San Diego State's Jeanette Engzell. Engzell beat VanLeeuwen in the dual meet. Both Otsuka and VanLeeuwen will have to compete like they did at Princeton to be able to defeat the competition.
In the 200 breast, Otsuka holds the top time, a Utah record, at 2:17.35. Otsuka has only lost one race in conference dual meets in the 200 breast, and that was to the second-place time holder, Engzell from San Diego State. Otsuka will have her chance to things up in Oklahoma City.
IM Events -
The IM events will be some of the toughest for Utah at the Championships. Caron currently owns the fastest time in the conference at 2:00.55, but Grant of BYU has top times just a few second behind Caron's. Along with Grant, the Cougars boast last year's 200 IM champion in Leilani Roberts. Her best time this season has been 2:05.94, In addition to Caron, the Utes have Otsuka and Sarah Cox (Scottsdale, Ariz.) who have the third and fourth time in the conference, at 2:03.54 and 2:05.53 respectively. The Utah women will have to swim at near perfection to be able to sweep the event.
Diving Events -
Utah diving will have the toughest road to winning at the championships for the Utes. Anna Braszkiewicz (Warsaw, Poland) looks to be a threat in the 1-meter dive. Her top score of 302.69 is currently third in the MWC. She trails Ava Jackman of BYU with a score of 310.28 and Stephanie Ortiz of Wyoming with her score of 309.45. The whole diving team has continued to improve during the season, and look to be in the top form for the championship.
MEN
Freestyle Events -
The distance free events hold the most promise for the Utes at the MWC Championships. Oliver currently holds the fastest time at 4:24.32. He is closely trailed by Kier Maitland and John Mendoza, at 4:25.45 and 4:25.46 respectively. Oliver lost in the dual meet against the Rebels earlier in the season, but since has had much faster times.
In the 1000 free, Oliver leads the Utes at 9:26.06 which time is currently third in the conference. He trails Mendoza and Maitland, who have times of 9:14.31 and 9:18.66.
Oliver has the second-fastest time in the 1650 free in the conference at 15:17.70, which is also a Utah school record. He is joined at the top of the conference by Eric Bonicelli (Overland Park, Kan.) who has the fourth best time at 15:38.56. The two distance swimmers from UNLV, Mendoza and Maitland, will be their toughest competition in the event.
Marco Ferraro (Freberdorf, Switzerland) will lead Utah in the sprint free events. His time in the 200 free is first in the conference at 1:38.59. In second is Bryan Avery from Air Force. Ferraro was able to beat Avery in the dual meet during the regualar season and the championships will give the two another match-up.
Back Events -
The back events look to give the Utes some tough match-ups. Major Robinson (Missoula, Mont.) has the second-best time in the conference in the 100 back at 50.16. Leading the conference is Nicholas Blank from UNLV at 49.79. Blank was able to beat Robinson in the dual meet in Las Vegas, but Robinson has since put up faster times and will be tougher competition for Blank.
In the 200 back, Robinson holds the fastest time in the MWC at 1:47.95. Behind him is Kai Yamashiro from Air Force at 1:48.53. Yamashiro was the winner in the dual meet in Salt Lake City and will be tough to beat this week.
Fly Events -
The Utah men's fly swimmers will have their hands full with the competition at the MWC Championships this week. In the 100 fly, Simon Oberholzer (Schaffhausen, Switzerland) holds the best time for the Utes at 50.57. The best time is almost a full two seconds ahead at 48.91, held by UNLV swimmer David Seiler. To win, Oberholzer will have to have a career race.
In the 200 fly, things a look a little more competitive for the Utes. Oberholzer holds the fourth-fastest time of 1:49.28 and Bonicelli is right behind him with the fifth-fastest time of 1:49.61. Both will have to be faster than they have ever been to beat Daniel Egly of UNLV, who holds the fastest time of 1:48.53.
Utah Relays -
The relays look to be the strongest events for the men this week. Utah currently holds three of the fastest times in the conference; 3:02.94 in the 400 free relay, 6:38.51 in the 800 free relay and 3:19.19 in the 400 medley relay. All three times were earned at the Princeton Invite.
The team of George Evans (Salt Lake City, Utah), Eric Murray (Woodstock, Ga.), Michel DeCarolis (Therwil, Switzerland) and Ferraro make up the 400 free relay team that aim to finish in first. To do that, they will have to beat BYU. The Cougars defeated the Utes in the regular season and have a best time of 3:02.99.
In the 800 free relay, the team of Robinson, Oberholzer, Ferraro, and Oliver will have to hold off the men from UNLV. Though never racing in the 800 head-to-head, the Rebels have put up the second fastest time in the conference at 6:42.12. While Utah has the better time by a few seconds, to win they will have to compete like they did at the Princeton Invitational.
John Baque (Olympia, Wash.), Oberholzer and Evans will have put forth some extra effort to be competitive in the 400 medley relay. UNLV's relay team has a season-best time of 3:20.31, just a little over a second behind Utah's best. The Rebels defeated the Utes in the regular season match-up. The Utes will have to be at their best to even have a chance of winning.
Breast Events -
The breast events are the strongest individual events for the Utah men. Leading the way is DeCarolis, who holds the fastest time in the 100 breast at 55.39. He is followed directly by teammate, Baque, who is second in the conference at 56.10. Their main competition will be coming from Andrew Morrell, who holds the third-fastest time in the MWC at 56.13. Morrell is the only opponent Baque lost to in the regular season in the 100 breast.
The 200 breast will also be a strong event led by DeCarolis and Baque. DeCarolis holds the second-fasest time in the conference at 2:01.59 and Baque has the third-fastest at 2:01.77. Both are preceded by Morrell, who's time of 2:00.65 is the fastest in the conference this season. Both DeCarolis and Baque lost to Morrell in the dual meet and hope to be able to even the score in Oklahoma City.
IM Events -
Baque looks to be lead man for Utah in the 200 IM event. He holds the third-best time in the conference at 1:51.52. Murray also will be competitive with his best time of 1:52.02, which is currently the fifth-best of the season. Both will take on Bryan Avery of Air Force, who holds the best time of 1:51.05. Murray defeated Avery in the dual meet during the regular season, showing that the event is up for grabs.
The 400 IM will showcase the Utah men, with four swimmers having top 10 times. Leading the way is Murray with a time of 4:00.70, followed by Bonicelli at 4:01.91, Oliver with a time of 4:02.05 and Rick Mason (Corvallis, Ore.) at 4:04.35. The conference leaders Blank and Mendoza from UNLV. Murray lost to Blank in the regular season but beat Mendoza. The Utes hope to be able to pull off the upset with more than one athlete in the event.
Diving Events -
The Utah men's diving team will be led by Michael Glasson (Price, Utah). Glasson's top scores this season are 245.39 in the 1-meter dive and 240.00 in the 3-meter. Glasson has steadily improved throughout the season and looks to peak at the right time.
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