Nov. 6, 2002
ATLANTA – The No. 23 Georgia Tech men’s swimming and diving team (1-1, 0-1 ACC) faces a stiff early-season test Thursday when it travels to Athens for a 5 p.m. meeting with in-state rival and 12th-ranked Georgia (2-0, 1-0 SEC).
Tech trails the all-time series with the Bulldogs, 25-52. UGA won last year’s meeting, 151-85. The Bulldogs enter Thursday’s action with road wins over North Carolina (164.5-135.5) and Kentucky (143.5-88.5). This meet is UGA’s home opener. Live results from the meet will be available at www.georgiadogs.com.
The Jackets are coming off a road loss to Florida State on November 2. Despite some solid swims from Tech, the Seminoles were victorious, 144.5-98.5.
Leading the way for Tech this season are the team’s co-captains, seniors Shilo Ayalon and James Salazar. Ayalon owns the team’s fastest marks in the 200 (1:41.46) and 500 free (4:31.84), while Salazar sports top times in the 100 (52.18) and 200 back (1:52.41). Junior All-ACC diver Paul McCarty has been Tech’s top diver on both the one and three-meter boards.
The Jackets have also enjoyed some strong performances from their talented group of freshmen. Rookie Sam Morgan recorded a team-best mark in a victory in the 1000 free (9:23.55) at Florida State, while Yonatan Cohen owns Tech’s best time in the 200 IM (1:54.35).
Following Thursday’s meet both the Yellow Jacket men and women return to action in West Lafayette, Ind., against Purdue and Cincinnati on November 15-16.
-GT-
