Women, Neethling swim on to scene

The Wildcats posted one of their best showings ever as a team, according to head coach Frank Busch.

"It was a great year," Busch said. "Watching the women finish 4th (at the NCAA Championships) was phenomenal."

The women's team's finish was the best in UA history at the NCAA's.

"It's the first time they ever received hardware," Busch said, referring to the fact that only the top four teams receive trophies at the NCAA's.

Leading the way for the women were freshman Trina Jackson, who won the 1,650-yard freestyle (15 minutes, 59.82 seconds) at the NCAA's, and All-American seniors Ashley Tappin and Claudia Stanescu.

Busch said that the team will miss both Tappin and Stanescu, with the former being the most prolific scorer in UA women's history.

The women's third place finish in the Pacific 10 Conference was also their best finish in history. The men also finished third and it was also their best finish in the Pac-10.

Leading the way for the men was freshman Ryk Neethling. Neethling, who hails from South Africa, won the 1,650 freestyle at the NCAA's.

"I had hoped to be this successful," he said earlier this season. "I kind of expected it, so I'm glad I did it."