Swim, dive dominate season-opening meet


By Allison Hamila
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Monday, October 31, 2005

The Arizona swimming and diving teams started off their season with wins in their first meet over the weekend against Wisconsin and Penn State at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center.

The men's team earned victories in 13 events, defeating Wisconsin 176-85, while the women's team took 10 events, beating Wisconsin 138.5-123.5 and Penn State 152-110.

"The kids did a nice job," said Arizona head coach Frank Busch. "It was the first meet for a lot of the kids."

It was the first time matching up against Penn State for the Wildcat women, which made the competition interesting, Busch said.

"We need to work on our spirit," he said. "It's really different to have a lot of new people. It's hard to get things going."

Busch said sophomore Lacey Nymeyer and senior Jenna Gresdal had exceptional performances for the women's swim team.

Nymeyer took first in three events, including the 50-yard freestyle (23.39) and the 500y freestyle (4:54.63). Gresdal won the 200y and 100y backstroke events.

Busch also lauded the efforts of senior diver Tiffany Manning, who took first place in the 1-meter and 3m platform events.

Nymeyer and Gresdal joined seniors Erin Sieper and Lisa Pursley on the 400y relay team that took first with a time of 3:44.56.

Gresdal and Pursley were also part of the first-place 200y freestyle relay team that, along with freshman Lindsey Kelly and senior Ryann Hackett, finished in 1:33.11.

On the men's side, Busch said seniors John Collier and Simon Burnett and sophomore Ivan Barnes had outstanding meets.

Collier, a senior diver, took first in the 1m and 3m platform events.

In the 200y freestyle relay, the last event of the day, Arizona's team of Burnett, Barnard, Barnes and senior Lyndon Ferns finished first in 1:22.90.

Burnett took the 200y backstroke with a time of 1:48.09, and Ferns won in the 50y freestyle in 21.01.

Senior Tyler DeBerry took first in the 400y individual medley with a time of 4:05.67.

The Wildcat divers next compete Nov. 11 and 12 in the Trojan Invitational in Los Angeles.

Arizona hosts a dual meet on Nov. 18 against USC at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center at 2 p.m.