Four Virginia Swimmers Selected to National Teams
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August 26, 1998
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Four members of the University of Virginia men’s swimming team have been chosen to represent their countries in international competition during the next year. Senior Shamek Pietucha (Edmonton, Alberta) will compete for Canada at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in September. Junior Doak Finch (Southern Pines, N.C.) has been named to the American squad for the 1999 World University Games, while junior Austin Ramirez (Brookfield, Wis.) and freshman Ed Moses (Fairfax, Va.) will be on the U.S. team at the 1999 Pan American Games.
Pietucha will swim both the 100 meter and 200 meter butterfly at the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Sept. 11-21. The 100 meter butterfly is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Sept. 13, while the 200 meter butterfly is set for Wednesday, Sept. 16. The 1997-98 UVa Male Athlete of the Year, Pietucha was a first team All-American in the 200 yard butterfly while also earning honorable mention All-America honors in the 100 yard butterfly and the 100 yard backstroke. He also broke school records in each of the three events in which he was named an All-American. In addition, Pietucha captured first place at the 1997 U.S. Open in both the 100 meter and 200 meter butterfly.
Finch will take part in the 200 meter butterfly at the World University Games, which will take place in Mallorca, Spain, from July 8-13, 1999. Finch was the MVP of the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference championship meet, winning league titles in the 200 yard butterfly, 200 yard individual medley and 400 yard individual medley. He also earned first team All-America honors in both the 200 yard butterfly and the 400 yard individual medley.
Ramirez will swim the 400 meter freestyle and Moses the 100 meter breaststroke at the Pan American Games, to be held in Winnipeg, Canada, from Aug. 1-7, 1999. Ramirez was the 1998 ACC Champion in both the 500 yard and 1,650 yard freestyle, while also being named a first team All-American in both of those events. Moses, one of the Cavaliers’ top incoming freshmen, placed third in the 100 meter breaststroke and 13th in the 200 meter breaststroke at the U.S. National Championship earlier this month.