Aug. 13, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland swimming program has released the names of the 2007-08 senior captains. Emily Smoak, Jake DiPiazza, Eric Thomasson, and Ken Golaszewski will represent the Terps during the following season. Head Coach David Durden stated, "The University of Maryland could not have four finer student-athletes representing the men's and women's swimming and diving program than these four individuals."

Last year, Smoak finished her season at the ACC Championships as a consolation finalist in the 100 breast, placing 21st overall with a season-best time (1:06.99). She also contributed to a sixth-place finish in the 200 free relay with an NCAA B-cut time (1:33.51). "Emily is returning as captain for the coming season," stated Head Coach David Durden, "and through the last year has learned a lot about her role as a captain. Emily did a fantastic job this summer and the youth of our team will be looking to her for guidance and direction through this next year."

DiPiazza established career-best times in the 50 free (21.11) for 29th and the 100 fly (51.41) for 38th at ACCs during the end of last season. He ancored the fifth-place 200 free relay team at the championships for a time of 1:21.08.

Durden described Dipiazza's swimming as what collegiate swimming is all about. "He walked into my office as a sophomore student on campus, asking to be apart of our program. Two years later he is a part of our group that went out to the US National Championships in Indianapolis. We look for his grit and determination to spread throughout our team in the coming year."

Maryland's third captain, Thomasson, will begin the season after competing in the US Nationals, where he recorded a personal best time of 56.0 in the 100 meter butterfly.

"Eric is a quiet leader that has learned over the past year how to become more vocal with his teammates. Eric had a fantastic summer, picking up his National cut in the 100 fly and being a part of our 400 Medley Relay at Nationals this summer. That experience will translate well to our returning and incoming athletes this fall."

Golaszewski will be the final captain for the Terps. He swam the second leg for the seventh-place 800 free relay team with a season-best time (6:41.15) at ACC Championships, while setting a career-best time in the 1650 free (15:46.18) to place 14th overall.

"Kenny is another quiet leader that has been the anchor of our distance core over the past two years. Kenny trained this summer while taking advantage of the resources the University of Maryland has to provide in working an internship in the DC area. I look forward to watching Kenny work with and guide our younger student-athletes this coming year."

To wrap up the success of his four incoming captains, Durden said, "These four athletes epitomize the qualities of leadership. All four have made tremendous strides both athletically and academically over the past two years to win the respect of their fellow teammates through being selected captains for the upcoming season."