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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Virginia has qualified 10 men’s swimmers in 17 events for the 2008 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, slated for Thursday through Saturday in the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center on the campus of University of Washington.
The Cavaliers making the cross-country trip are Darren Ankosko, John Azar, Matt McLean, Pat Reams, Lee Robertson, Scot Robison, Taylor Smith, John Snawerdt, Bryan Stahl and PJ Sullivan.
Five-time ACC Champion Matt McLean will look to put up a solid performance in the 200 and 500 free, as he easily qualified for both events during the ACC Championships. John Snawerdt will be competitive in the 1650 free, as will PJ Sullivan in the 200 breast.
UVa will race in five relays, including the 400 medley (Stahl, Sullivan, Robertson, McLean), 200 medley (Stahl, Sullivan, Robertson, Robison), 800 free (Azar, Robison, Ankosko, McLean) and 400 free (McLean, Robison, Azar, Robertson).
Virginia also will have multiple swimmers in the 500 free (McLean, Smith, Ankosko, Snawert), 200 IM (Azar, Reams, Sullivan), 50 free (Robison, Robertson), 100 fly (Reams, Robertson), 200 free (McLean, Robison, Azar, Smith), 1650 free (Snawerdt, Smith), 100 free (McLean, Robison), 200 fly (Reams, Robertson) and the 200 breast (Sullivan, Azar).
In addition, Stahl qualified in both the 100 and 200 backstroke events and Sullivan will swim the 100 breast.
Last year, Virginia finished 16th at the 2007 NCAA Championships and had seven All-American performances.
The University of Texas leads the field, coming into the championships as the No. 1 team. The Longhorns are challenged by Arizona, Stanford, Michigan and Auburn, who round out the top 5 in the national rankings. Virginia is currently ranked 15th.
The meet begins Thursday with the 200 free relay, 500 free, 200 IM, one-meter diving, 50 free, and 400 medley relay events.