Jan. 14, 2010

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland men's swimming and diving team will battle some of the Keystone State's finest this weekend when it travels to Pittsburgh for a tri-meet Friday and Saturday at Trees Pool.

Maryland, which continues to receive votes in the latest CollegeSwimming.com/CSCAA Top 25 Poll, dropped a tight contest to an undefeated Navy squad last weekend. The Terps were led by Andrew Relihan who tallied a pair of first-place finishes in the 200 back (1:51.57) and 200 IM (1:54.00) while finishing third in the 200 free (1:42.15). The senior tandem of Chris Rouchard and Brian Honore remain steady in the distance events Rouchard finished second in the 1000 free (9:25.78) and Honore took third in the 500 free (4:37.23). The pair both rank in the top ten in the ACC in the 500 free while Rouchard also boasts top ten times in the 1000 and 1650 free.

The Terps will face BIG EAST member Pitt as well as Big Ten-foe Penn State when the three teams converge on Trees Pool for the two-day event. Friday's diving events begin at 4 p.m., while swimming begins at 5 p.m. Saturday's action starts with diving at 9 a.m. followed by swimming at 10 a.m.

Pitt is 2-3 rolling into the weekend after falling against fellow BIG EAST member West Virginia its last time out. Jake Lucas set the WVU pool record in the 100 free (45.12) and also picked up a win in the 100 fly (50.14). Colin Forner swept the diving events for the Panthers, winning the 1-meter (305.78) and 3-meter (311.70). The Panthers also won the 200 medley (1:32.34) and 400 free (3:04.97) relays.

Penn State, which finished fifth at the Ohio State Invitational, is led by Basil Kaaki and Brian Alden. Alden, who is a top threat in the 50 and 100 free as well as the 100 breast, returns to the Nittany Lions this season after racking up Honorable Mention All-America honors last year as only a freshman. Kaaki qualified for the 2009 NCAA Championships in three events (200 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay). The Nittany Lions are 2-2 this season.

Following this weekend's meet, Maryland returns home for a battle against West Virginia Jan. 23 at Eppley Recreation Natatorium.