Story Links
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia men’s swimming team, fresh off its second consecutive and 12th overall Atlantic Coast Conference championship, is set to compete at the 2009 NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas. The event, which begins Thursday and runs through Saturday, is being held at the Student Rec Center Natatorium on the Texas A&M campus.
The Cavalier men have qualified 13 swimmers, the most in school history, and will be represented by at least one student-athlete in every swimming event, including all five relays. Representing Virginia at the national meet are seniors Ryan Hurley, Pat Mellors, Pat Reams and Lee Robertson; juniors Darren Ankosko, John Azar and Eric Olesen, sophomores Matt McLean, Scot Robison, Taylor Smith and John Snawerdt; and freshmen Peter Geissinger and David Karasek.
UVa’s highest finish at the national meet was a 10th-place showing in 2003 and the Cavaliers have had two individuals win three championships at the NCAA meet. Shanek Pietucha was the first in 1999, claiming the 200 butterfly. Ed Moses was a two-time winner in 2000, taking the 100 and 200 breaststroke titles in addition to being named the most valuable swimmer of the championships.
A year ago, Virginia placed 15th overall for its eighth top-15 finish in the past 10 years. The Cavaliers also had six All-Americans a year ago in returnees Matt McLean (200 free, 500 free), John Snawerdt (1650 free), Pat Reams and Lee Robertson (200 fly) and former swimmer PJ Sullivan (200 breast), who was a senior.
2009 NCAA Championships
March 26-28
College Station, Texas
Schedule of Events
Thursday, March 26
200 Freestyle Relay
500 Freestyle
200 Individual Medley
50 Freestyle
400 Medley Relay
One-meter Diving
Friday, March 27
200 Medley Relay
400 Individual Medley
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
800 Freestyle Relay
Three-meter Diving
Saturday, March 28
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
400 Freestyle Relay
Platform Diving
1650 Freestyle