Jan. 31, 2003
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams conclude the dual meet portion of their schedule Saturday with a challenging double-dual meet against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents Maryland and North Carolina at 11 a.m. at the Tar Heels’ Koury Natatorium.
This meet marks the second consecutive weekend trip to North Carolina’s Triangle area for the Jackets, as Tech swept Duke and dropped a pair at NC State last weekend. The Yellow Jacket men enter the meet 3-6 (1-2 ACC), while the women stand 4-5 (1-2 ACC).
This meet should be particularly challenging for the Tech women, who will be facing two of the nation’s top 15 teams. North Carolina (10-1, 5-0 ACC) is ranked No. 11 in the latest CSCAA Top 25 Poll, while undefeated Maryland (10-0, 2-0 ACC) checks in at No. 15. The Terps defeated Tech, 153-74, a year ago, while this event marks the first-ever meeting between the Jackets and Tar Heels.
The Yellow Jacket men will also face a nationally-ranked opponent, as North Carolina (6-4, 2-2 ACC) stands 20th. Maryland’s men have posted a 3-4 overall mark (0-1 ACC) this season. A year ago, the Jackets topped Maryland, 126-111, in College Park, equaling the all-time series at 1-1. The Jackets have defeated North Carolina just once in 19 tries.
Sophomore Lisa Hancock, who won three events last weekend against Duke and NC State, leads the Tech women into the meet. She owns the team’s top time in the 400-yard individual medley. Sophomore Anna Saum owns the ACC’s eighth-best time (57.37) in the 100 back, while classmate Moeko Wallis ranks as Tech’s best performer in the 50, 100 and 200 free.
On the men’s side, senior All-American Shilo Ayalon, who won five individual events last weekend, leads the way. He currently ranks among the conference’s best talents in the 500, 1000 and 1650 free, as well as the 400 IM. Seniors James Salazar and Tomonori Tsuji lead the team in the backstroke and breaststroke events, respectively.
Junior Paul McCarty and freshman Laurissa Prystaj anchor Tech’s diving efforts. This duo, along with sophomore Amy Sutton, has qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships on both boards.
Following this meet, Tech will begin preparations for the ACC Championships, which are set for February 20-22 (women) and February 27-March 1 (men). Both meets will be held in Chapel Hill.
-GT-
