By Sam Spiller
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 17, 1997

NAU swimmers thaw out for meet with Wildcats tomorrow

This event follows the Wildcats' solid performance at the Texas-Austin Invitational on December 5-7.

In the three-day meet, the 6th-ranked women's team broke one school relay record, swept three events and finished first in twelve events. The 800-meter relay team of Ashley Tappin, Liesl Kolbisen, Laurie Kline and Trina Jackson set a new school record with a 7:17.11. The old record of 7:18.06 was set in Indianapolis in 1994.

"On the women's side, the seniors are doing well," head coach Frank Busch said. "One is coming off an injury and the other is swimming the best of her career. I'm talking about Ashley Tappin and Claudia Stanescu."

Despite their performance, the women's team did not move up in the coaches' poll. The men, on the other hand, moved up a spot to No. 12 after Ryk Neething's first place finish in the 500 meter freestyle (4:25.09), Jason Orozco's third place finish in the 50 freestyle (20.42), Adam Grodzki's fourth place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:39.59) and Danny Zimmerman's fifth place finish on the 10-meter platform (408.75).

Busch was skeptical about their chances of moving up after this weekend.

"I don't think the women will move up in the coaches' poll," Busch said. "I would think that by the time the conference meets come around the men will be a top 10 team."

Tomorrow's meet is not expected to be as competitive as the upcoming meet against Stanford, but Busch is optimistic about the team's performance.

"Most of our kids will be swimming their off-events," he said. "With each meet we try to accomplish something. I don't expect anything fantastic."