March 8, 2005

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Sophomore Mason Walsh and freshman Jessica Botzum have qualified for the NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, March 17-19, in West Lafayette, Ind. Each swimmer will compete in three events.

Walsh (Herndon, Va.) goes into the 50 yard freestyle as the No. 8 seed after clocking a school-record time and Atlantic Coast Conference best of 22.61 this season.

She will also try to win a national championship in the 100 freestyle. Her time of 49.98 is a school record and is the third best in the ACC.

In the 100 breaststroke, Walsh's time of 1:03.15 is a school record. It is also the fourth best mark in the ACC this year. Botzum (Raleigh, N.C.) will be joining her fellow teammate in the event. Her time of 1:03.21 was the school record until Walsh broke it at the ACC Championships. Botzum's time is the fifth fastest in the conference.

The freshman's time of 2:14.93 in the 200 breaststroke ranks her 25^th in the nation and second in the ACC. Botzum trimmed nearly three seconds off the previous school record of 2:18.38.

She will also compete in the 200 individual medley. Her time of 2:03.44 is a school record and is also the second fastest time in the conference.

"We are proud of both of these swimmers," head coach Ned Skinner stated. "We have had our eye on NCAAs from the start for these two women and have worked all year to have our best meet at the NCAA Championships."