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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s swimming team has qualified seven student-athletes for the 2010 NCAA Championships. The meet is scheduled for March 25-27 at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

John Azar, Tom Casey, Peter Geissinger, Matt McLean, Eric Olesen, Scot Robison and Taylor Smith have each been selected to participate in the NCAA Championships. Additionally, John Snawerdt is currently listed as the No. 1 alternate.

“We are obviously pleased to have seven athletes definitely qualify for the NCAA meet and equally as pleased that all of our relays are in,” Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino said. “We feel very good that we will bring an eighth athlete into the meet (Snawerdt) once the diving is sorted out this weekend.”

All seven swimmers will compete in three individual events – the maximum allowed. Virginia also qualified teams in all five relays for the second consecutive year. The 400 free (2:52.11) and 800 free (6:19.23) relay teams both achieved NCAA ‘A’ cuts at the league championships last month.

“It’s a very representative team and one that has a lot of individuals seeded to score,” Bernardino said. “If all goes well, and that has not been the case for us this year, it’s a team that contend to be a top-10 team again. That has been our goal from day one.”

Robison, coming off three individual wins en route to being named the most valuable swimmer of the ACC Championships, is the top seed in the 200 freestyle with his record-breaking time of 1:32.45, the fastest time in the nation to date. He is also the second seed in the 100 free with a time of 42.21, one of only two NCAA ‘A’ cuts this season. Robison will also swim in the 50 free.

“What an honor to have the No. 1 seed in the 200 free,” Bernardino said. “Lofty position and a lot of pressure but just to know that he has performed at such a high level throughout the course of the season, I have the utmost confidence he will continue to perform at this big meet.”

Virginia’s highest finish in school history was a year ago, when the Cavaliers finished ninth overall.

2010 NCAA Men’s Qualifiers
John Azar, Senior

200 Free
200 IM
200 Breast

Tom Casey, Freshman*
100 Breast
200 Breast
200 IM

Peter Geissinger, Sophomore
50 Free
100 Free
100 Fly

Matt McLean, Junior
200 Free
500 Free
1650 Free

Eric Olesen, Senior
100 Back
200 Back
100 Fly

Scot Robison, Junior
50 Free
100 Free
200 Free

Taylor Smith, Junior
200 Free
500 Free
1650 Free

*Making first NCAA Championships appearance

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