ATLANTA — Four current and past members of the Georgia Tech swim team will be competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials when the meet gets under way on Wednesday at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind. The pool also hosted the Olympic Trials in 1984, 1992 and 1996.
Included in the group of Yellow Jackets is Theral Mackey, who graduated from Tech in December of 1999, junior 2000 all-ACC honoree David Laitala, sophomore Scott Lenyk and incoming freshman Chris Biedrzycki.
“We are very proud to have these four athletes representing Georgia Tech,” said Yellow Jacket head coach Seth Baron. “This is another step in the right direction for the re-building process of the men’s swimming team and hopefully will give us some additional respect for our hard-working athletes during my first three years at Georgia Tech.”
Baron added, “This is a unique swim meet that only takes place once every four years. It is a special meet for each of these athletes and an important step in their personal swimming careers.”
Laitala, a native of Richardson, Texas, will be competing in the 100 and 200 meter butterfly along with the 200 individual medley at the trials. He garnered all-ACC recognition in 2000 after finishing second in the 100 butterfly and is the Georgia Tech record holder in the 100 fly and the 200 IM. Lenyk (Suwanee, Ga.) is the current school record holder in the 200 backstroke and placed fifth in that event at the 2000 ACC Championships. He will compete in the 200 back at the Trials.
Although he has not made his first appearance on the Flats, Biedrzycki (Charlotte, N.C.) will compete in the 400 IM and 200 breaststroke after finishing second in both events at the Spring National Junior Championships in Orlando, Fla.
“For Laitala, Lenyk and Biedrzycki, this meet is going to give them some great experience to further their swimming careers at Georgia Tech,” said Baron.
Mackey, the former school record holder in the 100 breaststroke, placed sixth in that event at the 1999 ACC Championships, during his senior year at Tech and will look to close out his career at the Olympic Trials.
“For Theral, this is his swan song,” said Baron. “He will be retiring after this meet and is ending his career on a very high and positive note.”
The Trials will run from August 9-16, with the top-two finishers in each event qualifying for the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Results and live scoring will be available during the event on the U.S. Swimming website at www.usa-swimming.org.
