By
Kyle Faraday
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Dash, Painter lead way for Wildcats
Two swimmers on the Arizona men's swimming and diving team received NCAA qualifying times this past weekend at the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas.
Sophomore Jeff Dash made an automatic qualifying time in the 200-meter fly (1:45.26), while senior Tyler Painter qualified for the 1650m freestyle with a time of 14:52.18.
The three-day meet at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center is considered to be a preview of the NCAA Championships held in late March.
The strong swimming that is required to receive an NCAA endorsement ensures that Dash and Painter will be able to compete in their respective events at the championships.
Following the meet, Arizona learned that the team had dropped from fourth to fifth in the latest poll, despite its individual success in the Texas Invitational.
Because of the high level of competition among the teams that were participating in the event, achieving NCAA qualifying time is a considerable achievement.
"This meet was very good for us," senior Ben Anderson said. "There are certain standards that are set for being a top team, and we feel we can definitely give those other teams a run."
There were also a number of Arizona swimmers who fell short of automatic qualifying but did swim well enough to make NCAA consideration times.
Junior Kris Souther made consideration time in the 200m backstroke with a time of 1:45.88. In the 100m freestyle, seniors Jay Schryver (43.92) and Scott Gaskins (44.64), as well as freshman Eric LaFleur (43.71), are under consideration for their times.
Anderson and freshman Greg Owen made consideration times in the 200m fly and 200m breast respectively.
Other Wildcats competing on the final day of the invitational this past weekend were sophomore Tom Martensen, in the 200m backstroke (1:49.80), junior Peter Johnson, in the 100m freestyle (45.79), sophomore Dave Anderson, in the 200m breaststroke (2:04.19), and freshman Matt Sawatzki, in the 1650m freestyle (16:00.99).
"This was a morale builder for the team," Dash said. "It was a meet with an emphasis on individual times, but it definitely showed we can compete with anyone."
Kyle Faraday can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu.
