Maryland Preps for 2008 Terrapin Cup Invitational Thursday
11/19/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 19, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The pristine Eppley Recreation Natatorium will play host to the annual Terrapin Cup, beginning Thursday and running until Saturday, Nov. 22.
Maryland swimming and diving welcomes nine squads from along the east coast, including Navy, Connecticut, Richmond, Mary Washington, Villanova, William and Mary, Drexel, West Chester and North Carolina State.
The Terps aim to bring the title to College Park after placing third in men's and second in women's action last season. The meet has been extended from eight teams to ten in 2008. For the Terrapin women, Jen Vogel has been stellar all season long, topped off by three individual and one relay first-place finish in a pair of team victories last weekend against intrastate rivals UMBC and Towson. On the men's side, several swimmers continue to step up every meet, including senior Eric Cullen, who has been dominant in the 100 breaststroke.
Below is a rundown of the 2008 Terrapin Cup invitees:
Navy
Both the Navy men's and women's teams have opened the 2008-2009 season strong, reeling off eight consecutive victories apiece. The Midshipmen men's squad finished last season with a stellar 15-2 mark under sixth-year head coach Bill Roberts. Junior Tara Chapmon and junior Adam Meyer were both named the Patriot League's Swimmers of the Week November 11.
Sophomore Olaf Olson earned the men's diver of the week honor for the same week.
Connecticut
The UConn men's team begins the season 3-0 while the women start with a 3-1 record. Head coach Bob Goldberg is in his 21st season at Connecticut, compiling a record of 283-110-3. The Huskies swept the Terrapin Cup in 2007.
Richmond (women only)
The Spiders bring an 0-2 record into the Terrapin Cup. Freshmen Charlotte Brackett was named the Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Rookie of the Week Nov. 10. The Spiders have won seven consecutive Atlantic 10 women's swimming & diving titles and are the preseason favorite to win the A-10 this season.
Mary Washington
The Mary Washington Eagles are a member of the Capital Athletic Conference (Division III). The men's team starts the season with a 3-1 record while the women begin 4-0. The Eagles were CAC champions in both men's and women's swimming for the 2007-08 season. Mary Washington had one All-American and sent three swimmers to the NCAAs last season.
Villanova
The Villanova men's team is still looking for their first win of the season, sitting at 0-2 while the women have a 1-2 record. Former Wildcat Kristina Lennox, who graduated in 2007, represented Puerto Rico in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Lennox competed in both the 200 meter butterfly and 400 meter freestyle.
William & Mary
William and Mary swimmer Hailey Hewitt was named Colonial Athletic Association women's swimmer of the week on Nov. 10th. The Tribe has compiled 4-2 and 7-1 record for the men and women, respectively.
Drexel
Drexel swimmers and divers took home multiple honors for the week of Nov. 11th. Craig Podgurski and Jake Roberson were named the Colonial Athletic Association's swimmer and diver of the week, respectively. For Podgurski, it is the second time this season he has won the award. Drexel diver Kate Hynes took home her third straight Colonial Athletic Association Diver of the Week award. The Drexel men's team stands at 1-3 while the women's team is still searching for its first victory at 0-7.
West Chester
The Golden Rams swept Lehigh on the road in their last outing on both the men's and women's side. The men needed a big finish in the 400 medley relay - and got it - to defeat the Mountain Hawks. The women routed Lehigh with the help of standout performances from Jackie Borkowski (100 back, 50 free, 200 back, 400 free relay) and Erin Fischer (100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM). Head coach Jamie Rudisill has been at the helm of the West Chester program for 20 years.
N.C. State
The Wolfpack men possess seven top ten times and scores among ACC swimmers and divers this season. Stephen Mellor ranks third in the 200 back (1:48.52) and 200 IM (1:51.86) and eighth in the 100 back (50.43). Alex Dambly's qualifying score of 357.95 for the NCAA Diving Zones is fifth in the 3-meter dive. Dambly is joined by Austin Hampton, who has qualified for diving zones in both the 3-meter (362.45) and 1-meter (344.15). For the NC State women, Anna Linkenauger and Kristin Davies both claim solid performances in the ACC. Linkenauger's 4:25.43 in the 400 IM is the sixth-best in the league, while Davies' 306.15 in the 3-meter dive is seventh. That score also qualified Davies for the NCAA diving zones. The Terrapins defeated the Pack earlier this season, 189-162.
The event rundown for the 2008 edition of the Terrapin Cup Invitational are as follows:
Thursday, November 20
200 Freestyle Relay
500 Freestyle
200 Individual Medley
50 Freestyle
1 Meter Diving
400 Medley Relay
Friday, November 21
200 Medley Relay
400 Individual Medley
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
3 Meter Diving
800 Freestyle Relay
Saturday, November 22
1650 Freestyle
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
400 Freestyle Relay
