Cavaliers Take on Hokies this Weekend

Story Links

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.– The Virginia swimming and diving teams will take on in-state rival Virginia Tech Saturday in its first conference meet of the season. The meet will begin at 1 p.m. at the War Memorial Pool.

Last weekend, the Virginia swimming and diving teams lost to the Florida team in a challenging season opener. Thethe men’s team fell 162-133 while the women were bested 169-126.

The dual meet against Florida showcased the talents of Virginia’s first-year swimmers, as Taylor Smith and Scot Robinson placed first in the 1000-year freestyle and the 50-yard freestyle, respectively. The Virginia women held their own against Florida as well, with the team of Mei Christensen, Katherine McDonnell, Stephanie Glover, and Jessica Lewis winning the first event of the meet: the 200-yard medley relay. Ellie Freeman and Liz Shaw, first-years and first-place finishers, represented Virginia well with victories in the 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard butterfly.

Virginia Tech looks to improve its conference record after a dual meet with Clemson two weekends ago, in which the women won and the men were defeated.

The Hokie women are led by the 2007 ACC Swimmer of the Year, Jessice Botzum, who won three individual events last Friday (the 100, 200 breaststroke, and the 200 IM) and did her part to help the Hokie 200-yard medley squad to victory. Sara Shapiro also won multiple races in the 100 and 200 backstroke.

Three Hokie men captured individual events: Scott Beard (100 backstroke), Chip Hughes (200 freestyle), and Trey Stewart (200 butterfly).