UM Swimmers Travel to Maryland for Tri-Meet
Jan. 23, 2009
Complete Meet Notes in PDF Format 
Coral Gables, Fla. – Fresh off the wake of a victory last weekend, the University of Miami swimming & diving team travels to College Park, Maryland on Saturday, January 24 for a tri-meet with ACC foe Maryland and the University of Richmond at the Eppley Recreation Natatorium.
This is the first time Miami will be meeting the Richmond Spiders. Meanwhile, Maryland holds a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series against the Hurricanes, taking a 139-96 decision back on November 5, 2005 in College Park, Md.
“We only have two meets left before ACC’s, so this is going to be a great chance for the girls to step-up and practice racing,” comments Shefchunas. “It should be a very close meet, and I look forward to seeing the girls’ step-up as they’ve been getting physically and mentally stronger with every day.”
Last weekend, Miami celebrated Senior Appreciation Day for five student-athletes competing in their final home meet for the Orange and Green. Behind the efforts of Deidre Novotny, Ryann Labreche and Annika Saarnak–all posting new season-best times in different events, the Hurricanes rode the wave to a 166-73 win over Central Connecticut State.
Saarnak set a new personal and season-best performance in her first 500 freestyle event of the year, going 5:01.30. Novotny scored a Top 10 season performance in the 200 backstroke with a mark of 2:05.32, while freshman diver Kelci Bryant and junior All-American Brittany Viola showed why they are certainly going to be ones to watch at the upcoming championships. Bryant took a hard-fought win over Viola on the 1-meter springboard, coming from behind on her last three dives.
“Annika [Saarnak] and Deidre [Novotny] are definitely two of the hardest-working women on the team, and it’s definitely paying off,” expresses Shefchunas. “They both have a new determination and new confidence about them, and it’s not only making each of them better, but it’s making the team better as well.”
This is the first of two trips the `Canes will be making to College Park, with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships being hosted by Maryland beginning February 18.
“The girls are very excited to swim against Maryland this weekend,” states Shefchunas–making her first-ever trip to College Park against the Terps. “It will give them a great chance to see the facility and familiarize themselves with it, so when we come back for the ACC Championships next month they will be ready.”
This is UM’s fourth meet with multiple opponents this season, other than the Ohio State Invitational. They hold a record of 6-4 in those previous meets, never once being able to sweep either opponent. The closest was a 3-1 meet record in a five-way shoot-out hosted by Georgia Tech on November 15 in Atlanta, Ga.
For more information regarding Miami swimming & diving, log on to www.hurricanesports.com. Results will be posted to the website following the event, along with updated season times.
