Swimmers dominate Texas Invite

Although the event is based on individual results, when a compilation of times is made, Arizona was the dominant team at the meet.

Several of the nation's powerhouse swimming teams, such as host Texas, Nebraska, UCLA, ASU, Wisconsin and Texas A&M, were present, but none stacked up to the Wildcats.

UA coach Frank Busch was visibly excited for the meet on Friday, and with good reason.

Afterward, he told the swimmers that it was one of the best meets the team has had ever had and they showed him they have taken the steps needed to become a great team.

"This meet, what I saw more than any other meet I have ever been to, was the cheering our team had for each other," senior Liesl Kolbison said. "The tight support we had for one another. Everyone was helping everyone else to succeed. It was amazing."

Four school records were broken.

"I think we have always known we are a great team, but we really stepped it up this week," senior captain Heather Branstetter said. "Especially the freshman were impressive. They were great, so many of them had personal bests at the meet."

One swimmer that blossomed over the weekend was sophomore Matt Allen who won the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke races in consecutive days. All of the races were measured in yards.

"He has always been a really good swimmer, but he put it all together at this meet.," Branstetter said. "His individual work he has put in with his coach really paid off."

Sophomore Ryk Neethling, from South Africa, continued his winning ways, cruising to victory in the 1,650 freestyle in a time of 15:03.62, nine seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

Neethling already has qualified for the NCAA championships in March in the 1,650 free and in the 500 free.

Freshman Jay Schryver who won the 100 and 200 free races. His time of 1:35.99 in the 200 was two-hundredths of a second off former Wildcat and American record-holder Chad Carvin's time in the 200.

Senior Glenn Flint earned himself a berth to the NCAAs with a victory in the 200 breaststroke in a time of 1:58.65, missing the school record by five seconds.

Sophomore diver Jimmy Sjodin won the men's platform competition with a score of 497.65. Sophomore Rob Henikman won the 100 breaststroke and the 50 free. Senior Chris Counts won the 200 individual medley by one second, and Arizona won the 400 medley relay.

Freshman Ben Anderson won the 200 butterfly in 1:46.41.

Leading the way for the women was senior Laurie Kline, who easily qualified for the NCAAs in the 1,650 free, swimming 16:14.44, just ahead of teammate and Olympian Trina Jackson. Kline also won the 500 free.

Jackson and Kline were 1-2 in this event at last year's NCAAs.

Sophomore Denali Knapp set school records in winning the 100 and 200, both good for NCAA qualification. She also qualified in the 100 back.

Senior Shannon Hosack earned an NCAA qualification, although finishing second in the 50m free.

Freshman Lindsay Farella earned two berths to the NCAAs this weekend, winning both the 100 and 200 free.

Farella, Neethling and Jackson will represent the United States in the World Championships in Perth, Australia in the middle of January. The three leave the day after Christmas and will be gone for 24 days at this year's event, which is considered as important as the Olympics.

Not to be left out is the women's relay teams. The two time defending champion foursome of Hosack, Farella, Leisl Kolbisen and Dianna Groff won the 400 free relay and the 200 relay, the race the team is the favorite to three-peat in.

Four women and one male that competed for the Wildcats were not shaved or tapered.

Arizona will not be in action until Jan. 17, when they take on Northern Arizona at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center at 1 p.m.