Hurricane Swimmers/Divers Ready for Season Opener
Oct. 9, 2009
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming & diving team is set to open the 2009-10 season Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m., traveling to Georgia Tech for a four-way meet being housed at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta.
Miami will meet two Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) foes this weekend, including Clemson and host Georgia Tech. The fourth team joining UM in Saturday’s meet will be Western Kentucky. Miami defeated Georgia Tech, 147-124 last season in Atlanta, but fell to Western Kentucky in that same meet, 155-129.
Entering into her fourth year at the helm in Coral Gables, head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas is coming off one of the most successful years in over a decade for the Hurricanes. The 2008-09 squad finished with a dual record of 10-7, collecting the most dual-meet wins since 1995-96 when the programs were split men and women.
The Hurricanes are returning nine letterwinners from a season ago, two of which earned NCAA “B” cut qualifying times. Among the returnees are junior Annika Saarnak (Puhaleda, Estonia) and sophomore Dana Hatic (Coral Springs, Fla.). Additionally, Miami welcomes 11 newcomers to this year’s squad, one that ranks as one of the best recruiting classes in the Shefchunas era.
“We’re really looking forward to the meet this weekend,” expressed Shefchunas. “The girls have been training out of their minds and gaining confidence every day. Now, we just have to step-up with no fear and get the job done.”
On the diving side of things, Miami returns a pair of 2008 NCAA Champions in Brittany Viola (Orlando, Fla.) and Reuben Ross (Regina, Saskatchewan) as veteran head coach Randy Ableman continues to keep the tradition and legacy of Miami diving alive and well.
Last season, Viola finished as an All-America honorable mention at the NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas following a top 10 finish in the finals of the platform event. During the summer of 2009, Viola served as team captain for the United States Diving Team at the FINA World Championships in Rome.
Meanwhile, Ross claimed a sweep of All-America honors at the men’s NCAA Championships, garnering the esteemed award on the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform event. In claiming the sweep, Ross became just the fifth male diver in UM history to accomplish the feat at the NCAA’s. He was tabbed the ACC’s Men’s Swimming & Diving Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2009. In addition, Ross was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team, and awarded as the ACC Male Diver of the Year.
During the summer of 2009, Ross competed in the FINA World Championships, claiming a bronze medal on the 3-meter synchronized springboard.
In season-openers under Shefchunas, the Hurricanes have claimed a 3-1 record, with their lone loss being a 143-99 setback to ACC rival Florida State last season at home. This will be the first four-way meet for the Hurricanes in a season-opening event, and just the second meet not being a head-to-head matchup. Last year, UM opened the year with Florida Gulf Coast and FSU in Coral Gables, where the `Canes split results, 1-1.
“Going against two ACC schools will give us a great idea of where we are in the conference,” commented Shefchunas. “As for Western Kentucky, they are a really strong program. So, it will be great to go up against ladies that were at NCAA’s last year.”
Live results for the meet will be made available throughout the day by visiting www.ramblingwreck.com. Once there, please navigate to the swimming & diving home page for up-to-date results and times.
“I feel really good about this year and the team that we have,” continued Shefchunas. “I think we have a very bright future ahead.”
For more information on the University of Miami Swimming & Diving team, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. There you will find up-to-date news, results and information regarding the Hurricanes Swimming & Diving program.
