By
Lindsey Manroel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA divers set 3 records
Senior recognition day could not have provided a better ending for the Arizona swimming and diving team as it concluded its regular spring season with a victory over Arizona State Saturday afternoon at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center.
The 181-119 win marked the first men's victory against ASU in six years. Not to be outdone, the UA diving team set three school diving records in the win.
"It feels great," junior Roland Schoeman said. "The seniors said that they didn't want to go out to ASU with a loss. I think everyone realized we could come back and win."
UA senior Tyler Painter took home victories in three events - the 1000-meter freestyle, the 500-meter freestyle and the 400-meter individual medley.
Schoeman took home three wins of his own - including a Hillenbrand Aquatic Center record time of 19.69 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle.
The UA women had little difficulty defeating the Sun Devils, 182-113.
No. 2 Arizona showed its dominance, winning 12 of the 14 possible events.
Sophomore Beth Botsford touched the wall first in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke as well as the 100-meter butterfly.
Sophomore Amanda Beard also came up strong for the Wildcats, placing first in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke and the 400-meter individual medley.
"It's nice (to beat ASU)," Beard said. "It's a lot of fun to race hard and come together. We're getting ready for Pac-10 (championships) and then continue on to NCAA's. It's only to get better."
Sarah Tolar contributed to the Wildcats' success, adding two individual wins of her own. The UA junior came in first in the both the 1000- and 200-meter freestyle events.
Leading the way for Arizona diving, Omar Ojeda dove his way to two new school records.
The UA junior set the records in the one meter with a point total of 415.88 as well as on the three meter with 402.03 points.
In the final meet of her Wildcat career, UA senior Adrian David's 348.45 point performance on the one-meter board also set a new Hillenbrand record.
Sidelined by fall injuries and absences, both squads are back at full strength and ready to attain post-season success.
"We're healthy, but sicknesses are part of life," UA head coach Frank Busch said. "We've done a good job of getting through the low times and are starting to look like swimmers again."
Both squads will now prepare for the Pac-10 Championships, which begin for the Wildcat women Feb. 22 in Seattle.
