Hurricanes take Seven First Place Finishes against Michigan State and Rutgers
Jan. 2, 2004
Complete Results
CORAL GABLES, Fla. –
Junior swimmer Katalin Ferenczi and senior diver Emily Spychala combined for four first place finishes to lead the University of Miami women’s swimming and diving team to a victory over Michigan State on Friday afternoon at the Norman Whitten Student Union Pool.
The women’s team put together five first place finishes to finish ahead of the Spartans 121.00 to 118.00.
“I was very please with how we swam today,” Head Swim Coach Mariusz Podkoscielny said. “We have really been working hard over the break and our focus was to come out and race hard. This is a good way to start 2004 and beating Michigan State was the highlight of the meet.”
Ferenczi took top honors in the 200-yard IM, posting a time of 2:08.19 before claiming first place in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.67.
Spychala mirrored the performance for the UM dive squad, turning in a season bests with a score of 267.45 in the one-meter springboard and posting a mark of 313.85 in the three-meter to take first place in each.
Several Hurricane newcomers made an impact at the meet.
Freshman Tara Erwin turned in a time of 10:32.56 in the 1000-yard freestyle, finishing more than seven seconds over the next competitor to take first place and finished second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:07.64.
Freshman Nancy Gajos continued to improve for UM, taking a second place finish in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.09.
“Individually, Adrien Ferguson swam some back to back races that were crucial for us,” Podkoscielny said. “Ashley Knapp did well in the relays and her individual events. Tara Erwin had a big win for us in the 1000 freestyle and Katalin Ferenczi had a great performance in the 200 IM that really sparked our team. That win generated a lot of excitement that carried throughout the meet.”
UM could not overcome Rutgers in the second part of the split duel meet, falling 139.50 to 99.50 to the Scarlet Knights.
The men’s team swept the diving competition, taking first place in the three and one-meter springboard..
Freshman diver Derek Starks claimed his first collegiate victory in the men’s one-meter springboard with a personal best score of 323.50 edging out teammate and two-time All-American Miguel Velazquez who finished second with a score of 318.20.
Velazquez and Starks also finished first and second in the three-meter springboard, with Velazquez taking top honors with a score of 374.45 and Starks posting a 291.05.
“Overall this was a great team effort,” Podkoscielny said. “It really came down to the last couple of events and we could not have done it without the entire team.”
