2/2/2005 - Men's Swimming
Senior Day to Highlight Last Home Swimming Weekend of the Season
men's captain Jake Keefe |
women's captain meakin Poor |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy men's and women's swimming and diving teams will both take to the Lejeune Hall pool Saturday for the final time this year as the programs close out their respective home seasons. The women's team will play host to Richmond at 11 a.m., with the men's team to follow at 2 p.m. with a dual against Princeton. In addition to the competitions, both programs will recognize the seniors on their respective team as part of their final appearances in Lejeune Hall.
The Navy women's team dropped just its second meet of the season (10-2) last Saturday with a 175-124 loss at Penn. Multiple event winners on the day for Navy included Tori Throckmorton (Sr., Ann Arbor, Mich.) in the 50 free and 100 butterfly, Aubra Thomas (So., Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the 200 back and 200 individual medley, as well as Katie Griffin (Fr., Ellicott City, Md.) who was tabbed as this week's Patriot League Diver of the Week after winning both boards against the Quakers.
"Our senior class, including Jenn Windstein (Jr., Lancaster, Pa.) who is in her last year of eligibility, are an outstanding group," said Navy women's head coach John Morrison. "Each athlete brought a unique leadership style to our team and collectively have done a fine job in leading the team through a great season. I could not have asked for a better group of student-athletes to work with during my first year."
Richmond, selected during the league's preseason poll to win its fourth-straight Atlantic 10 Conference title in a few weeks, has posted a 3-5 record on the year. Included on its ledger are losses to Tennessee, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech.
Saturday's meet will be the final one of the regular season for the Navy women. The Mids will then turn their focus to the Patriot League Championship, slated to be held Feb. 24-26 in Lewisburg, Pa. Navy was tabbed at the start of the season to place second at the league meet. The host school, Bucknell, was selected as the league's preseason favorite.
The Navy men's program saw its record fall to 10-4 on the season with a 130-113 loss at Penn last Saturday in Philadelphia. Kevin Teague (So., Lexington, Ky.) won both diving boards over the Quakers to improve to 27-1 on the year, while Joe Smutz (Jr., Marriottsville, Md.) swept the sprint freestyle events for the fourth time in as many competitions.
"Saturday's meet is about two things," said Navy men's head coach Bill Roberts. "First, we are preparing our team for our two league championship meets by racing against the reigning Eastern champions in Princeton. If we are to be at our best in about one month, we need to be racing the best now. With Princeton this weekend and Columbia the next, we are able to face off against two of the top-three teams from the 2004 meet in a span of eight days to gauge our progress.
"Our other focus will be on our members of the class of 2005. We have a terrific day planned for Saturday and look forward to recognizing their achievements over the past four seasons!"
Princeton, winners of the 2004 Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League title, brings a 6-1 record to Annapolis. The Tigers recorded a 170-122 victory over the Mids last season in New Jersey.
The Navy men's team will close its regular season Feb. 12 at Columbia, then will compete at both the Patriot League Championship and the EISL Championship, March 3-5 at Harvard. Navy was selected to repeat as Patriot League champions in voting conducted at the start of the season.
