Jan. 24, 2002
ATLANTA – It will be a busy weekend for the Georgia Tech swimming program, as the Yellow Jacket men will swim 13th-ranked Georgia in Athens on Friday and then host NC State on Saturday at Emory’s Woodruff P.E. Center. The meet against the Wolfpack, which will begin at 11:30 a.m., will also feature the women’s teams.
Action against the Bulldogs will begin at 6 p.m. at Gabrielsen Natatorium. Tech enters the meet with marks of 4-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC competition. The last time out Georgia’s men dropped a 135.5-101.5 meet at second-ranked Texas.
A year ago, Georgia defeated Tech, 122-108, also in Athens. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 51-25.
As for NC State, the Wolfpack men enter Saturday’s competition with a 3-2 (2-1 ACC) record, while the women are 2-3 (1-2 ACC). Each squad is coming off of a loss to conference foe Virginia.
Last year, Tech’s men defeated NC State, 140-101, in Raleigh. That win was just the third all-time for the Yellow Jackets against Wolfpack. This is the first-ever meeting between the first-year Tech women’s program and NC State.
“This weekend will present a great opportunity for our men, since they will be swimming both Friday night and Saturday,” said Tech head coach Seth Baron. “Both UGA and NC State present unique challenges for our team and will offer us a chance to see continued improvements in our swimming.”
“Georgia is the third top-25 team that we have faced in the past two weeks. Our men have split the last two opportunities and should offer Georgia a strong challenge.”
Tech’s men will be led by junior Shilo Ayalon, who ranks second in the ACC in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles, and senior David Laitala, who has posted the league’s fastest time in the 100 butterfly as well as the third-best performance in the 200 IM. Junior Tomonori Tsuji ranks first in the league in the 100 breast and fourth in the 200 breast.
The Yellow Jacket women will be led by freshmen Cara DeVinny and Anna Saum. Each has established five individual school records this season. Amy Sutton will pace Tech’s divers against the Wolfpack.
“The women will have an opportunity to swim against another ACC opponent that matches up well with our team,” added Baron. “We match each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which should lead to a great dual meet.”
Following this weekend’s action, Tech will host Western Kentucky on February 2 to close out the dual-meet portion of the schedule.
-GT-
