Jan. 14, 2005

Fort Worth, Texas - The TCU men's swimming and diving team will return to the friendly confines of the University Recreation Center Pool for a dual meet against the No. 3 Florida Gators on Saturday at 11 a.m. Admission is free of charge.

NATIONALLY RANKED FOE COMES TO TCU -- The Florida men's swimming and diving team comes to Fort Worth as the No. 3 ranked team in the Dec. 16 College Swim Coaches Association (CSCAA) poll. The Gators tallied 186 points with two first place votes and trail only Southern California and Auburn, respectively.

FLORIDA SUCCESS -- The H2O Frogs returned to competition in Florida during their holiday training trip. TCU opened its competition by winning 18 of 20 relay events to win the Tampa Relays for both the men and women.

On Jan. 8, the Frogs returned to dual competition and picked up four wins in Fort Pierce, Fla., over Indian River Community College and Southern Illinois.

Freshman Emily Duerringer had a strong weekend for the team as she won a total of eight events in the two competitions. The Kingwood, Texas native won five relays at the Tampa Relays and won the 100 and 200-free and was a member of the top 200-free relay in the duals.

For the men, senior Kelly McCain continued to succeed in the diving events as he claimed both the one and three meter crowns in the dual. McCain tallied 321.70 points to win the 1-meter springboard and compiled 327.65 points to win the 3-meter event.

FROGS BEAT TOP-10 TEAMS -- The TCU swimming and diving team defeated Southern Illinois last Saturday in Fort Pierce, Florida, in the first ever meeting between the two schools. The Salukis entered the meet with both their men and women's teams ranked among the top-10 in the NCAA Mid-Major poll.

The men's squad came in as the No. 3 team in the country and fell to the Frogs, 166-129. It was the second ranked opponent that the men's team has defeated this season. The Frogs beat then-No. 1 Louisiana-Monroe 124-112 on Nov. 5.

Southern Illinois' women's team was the No. 10 ranked team in the Dec. 20 poll. The Frogs improved to 9-1 this season with the 160-131 victory over the Salukis.

SUPER SOPHOMORE -- Erica Tate accomplished two things at the UT Invite in December. The Horned Frog sophomore broke a school record in one event and NCAA "B" qualified in another.

Tate, who was honored as the C-USA Swimmer of the Week on Nov. 16, broke a 14 year old school record in the 100-fly. She touched the wall in 55.41 seconds to beat Katie Tredennick's mark of 56.19 seconds that was set in 1989. Tate also became the first TCU women's swimmer to NCAA "B" qualify this season when she finished with a time of 23.42 seconds in the 50-free.

"CHAPPY" NCAA "B" QUALIFIES -- Senior Craig Chapman NCAA "B" qualified in the 200-backstroke at the UT Invite in December. It is the second straight year for him to accomplish this feat.

His time of 1:47.12 puts him as the 27th best time in the nation this year. If the season ended today, the senior would be heading to the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn.

Chapman also is among the top-55 in the country in two additional events this season. He sits at 40th in the 100-back (49.86) and 55th in the 500-free (4:29.14).

RELAY SUCCESS -- The TCU swimming and diving team has the top times in six of the 10 relays in Conference USA this season. In the four relays that the Frogs aren't atop the listings, they sit with the second fastest times.

The women's squad hold the top times in the 200-free relay (1:35.90), 400-free relay (3:28.31), 800-free relay (7:35.86) and the 400-medley relay (3:51.93). They have the second fastest time in the 200-medley relay.

The men's team has the top times in the 400-medley relay (3:25.57) and the 800-free relay (6:49.41). They have the second best times in the 200 and 400-free as well as the 200-medley relay.