Jan. 12, 2002
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite strong performances from its pair of All-Americans, the Georgia Tech men’s swimming and diving team was defeated, 168-129, by the University of Alabama Saturday at the Crimson Tide’s Alabama Aquatic Center. Tech’s first-year women’s team was defeated by Alabama, 179-103.
Leading the way for the 25th-ranked Jackets’ men’s squad (3-2, 1-1 ACC) were juniors Shilo Ayalon and Tomonori Tsuji, who each posted a pair of wins on the afternoon. Ayalon captured victories in the 1000 and 1650-yard freestyle. He met the NCAA “B” qualifying standard in the 1650 with a time of 15:20.9.
Tsuji claimed wins in each of the breaststroke events, posting a time of 56.83 in the 100 and 2:03.25 in the 200-yard event. Other wins on the men’s side came from senior David Laitala, who claimed the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 49.17, and the Jackets’ 200-yard medley relay team of freshman Jeremy Raines, Tsuji, Laitala and senior Josh Hersko.
On the women’s side, Tech (4-4, 0-2 ACC) was led by freshman Cara DeVinny, who won the 200 fly in a time of 2:04.40 and also placed second in the 200 individual medley and third in the 200 breast. The Jackets’ other win came from freshman Anna Saum, who placed first in the 100 fly with a time of 57.73.
Alabama’s men’s team is ranked 15th nationally, while the women stand and 19th.
The Yellow Jackets return to action next Saturday, as they host ACC opponent Clemson at Emory’s Woodruff P.E. Center at 1 p.m.
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