Terps Swimming and Diving Returns to Competiton Friday
1/15/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Jan. 15, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After spending a portion of the holiday break in Florida on a training trip, the Terps swimming and diving team returns to the friendly confines of Eppley Recreation Natatorium this weekend, playing host to Pennsylvania trio Villanova, Penn State and Pittsburgh 5 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The Maryland women's squad rolls into the weekend with a 5-2 record, including a 1-2 slate in ACC play. The Terps are paced by former ACC Swimmer of the Week Jen Vogel. The junior had a tremendous outing for Maryland last time out, leading Maryland to the Terrapin Cup title by competing on four winning relays and breaking the pool and school record in the 200 fly (1:57.72) with an NCAA B-cut and first-place finish. The 200 fly has been a very strong event for the women contingent, as the Terps have two of the three best times in the ACC in the event this season (Vogel, 1:57.72 and Patty DeScenza (1:58.17). The Terps have three top five relay finishes in the conference this season in the 400 (3:23.40) and 800 free (7:26.97) and 200 medley (1:42.89).
The men's team heads into this weekend's action with a 4-3 record overall and 1-2 in the ACC. The Terps fell at a strong Navy team before the break and finished second in the Terrapin Cup. Individually, Maryland has had several swimmers step up at different points in year, but is led by the consistency of upperclassmen Andy Dilz, Alexsander Damjanic and Eric Cullen. Dilz is seventh in the 50 free (20.37), while the combo of Dilz and Cullen are eighth and tenth in the 100 breast, respectively. Cullen is also ninth in the ACC in the 200 breast (2:03.23) while Damjanic boasts the ninth and eighth best times in the 100 and 200 fly, respectively. Maryland also boasts top five relay times in the 200 (1:31.23) and 400 medley (3:19.76) and 200 free (1:21.64).
Facing the Terps this weekend will be three main Keystone State institution as Pittsburgh (Men 2-2, 1-2 Big East/Women 3-1, 2-1 Big East), Penn State (Men 1-3, 1-0 Big Ten/Women 3-2-1, 1-0 Big Ten) and Villanova (Men 0-2, 0-2 Big East/Women 1-2, 0-2 Big East) will pay a visit to Eppley.
Pitt defeated West Virginia on both the men's and women's side in conference action Jan. 10. Justin Corvin and Allie Horvath each garnered Swimmer of the Meet honors after leading the Panthers to the win. Corvin was a member of the first place 400 free relay, won the 50 free and placed third in the 100 free. Laura Barnes led the women's 200 medley relay to a win and captured the 100 and 200 breaststroke for Pitt.
Penn State was second in women's action and third in men's at the Ohio State Invitational Dec. 7. The Nittany Lions are paced by 200 backstroke NCAA Champion Patrick Schirk. Kelly Nelson and Kaitlyn O'Brien are forces to be reckoned with in the 200 fly and 200 breast, respectively. The trio of Chris Sullivan, David Kraft and Dito Calderon registered NCAA B-cut times in the 1650 free last time out.
Villanova is a familiar foe for Maryland as the Wildcats competed in the Terrapin Cup in November, with the men finishing sixth and the women fifth. Lindsey Hagens was a bright spot for Villanova, winning the 200 back. Astrid Armgarth placed second in the 400 IM.
