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Tech downs James Madison in season opener
Two pool records fall in opening meet of 2006-07
October 14, 2006
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech men's and women's swimming and diving teams beat James Madison in the season opener, Saturday, at the War Memorial Pool in Blacksburg, Va. The women won with a score of 166-120, while the men took the meet 158-131. The women were first in 13 of the 16 events, while the men topped the board in 12 of 16 events.
Jessica Botzum was the first Hokie to break a pool record for the day. In the 100-yard breaststroke, Botzum hit the wall in 1:02.85, knocking two seconds off the previous record of 1:04.92. In the diving well, Mike McDonald smashed the second pool record for the meet. McDonald totaled 356.25 over six dives on the 3-meter springboard, roughly 26 more points that the former high.
The H2Okies took the meet into their hands in the opening event. The women's and men's 200-yard medley relay teams each opened with wins, with the women's side taking the Top 4 spots in the event and the men taking the Top 2.
The women won six events in a row, before James Madison was able to have a swimmer reach the wall first. In four of those events, the women went 1-2-3-4. Stephanie Jones, Botzum and Lara Beth Elder each won two individual events for the Hokies. Jones clocked in first in the 1,000- and 500-yard freestyle events, while Botzum swam to a first-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 400-yard individual medley. Elder won both the 1- and 3-meter boards for the women, claiming them at 245.50 and 298.10, respectively.
On the men's side, Tech went at least 1-2 in 10 of 16 events in the home opener. Neil Savage and McDonald were double-event winners for the men. Savage touched the wall first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.04) and in the 400-yard individual medley (4:09.75). McDonald broke the pool record in the 3-meter and was first in the 1-meter with 301.85.
One of the many highlights of the meet was the freshmen's impact on the outcome. Seven individual events were won by Hokie freshmen. Katie Suhr took the 100-yard backstroke (58.44), Kelly deMarrais was first in the 200-yard backstroke (2:04.38), Griffin Lutterbein reached the wall first in the 500-yard freestyle (4:46.41) and McDonald and Elder combined for all four boards. Also, three first-years competed on two winning relays.
The Tech women are in action next weekend when they will compete at nearby Radford, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m., while a select few will travel to Dallas, Texas, for the SMU Swim Classic Oct. 20-21.
Virginia Tech vs. James Madison
Oct. 14, 2006
Mens: Virginia Tech: 158, James Madison: 131
1. 200 Medley Relay Virginia Tech 1:34.99
(Beard, Pelenberg, deToll, Bova)
2. 1,000 Freestyle Zac Czaplicki (VT) 9:35.71
3. 200 Freestyl e Neil Savage (VT) 1:44.04
4. 100 Backstroke Josh Fowler (JMU) 51.42
5. 100 Breaststroke Brian Freitag (JMU) 1:00.32
6. 200 Butterfly Stephen Jensen (VT) 1:56.11
7. 50 Freestyle Scott Beard (VT) 21.40
8. 1-meter diving Mike McDonald (VT) 301.85
9. 100 Freestyle Jake Bova (VT) 47.29
10. 200 Backstroke Josh Fowler (JMU) 1:52.97
11. 200 Breaststroke Brian Freitag (JMU) 2:09.73
12. 500 Freestyle Griffin Lutterbein (VT) 4:46.41
13. 100 Butterfly Ian de Toll (VT) 52.21
14. 3-meter diving Mike McDonald (VT) 356.25
15. 400 IM Neil Savage (VT) 4:09.75
16. 200 Free Relay Virginia Tech 1:27.91
(Nicolino, Bova, Tayla, Rogers)
Women's: Virginia Tech: 166, James Madison: 120
1. 200 Medley Relay Virginia Tech 1:46.94
(McHorney, Botzum, Barney, Ameen)
2. 1,000 Freestyle Stephanie Jones (VT) 10:15.56
3. 200 Freestyle Sara Smith (VT) 1:52.17
4. 100 Backstroke Katie Suhr (VT) 58.44
5. 100 Breaststroke Jessica Botzum (VT) 1:02.85
6. 200 Butterfly Megan Newell (VT) 2:08.73
7. 50 Freestyle Allison Keel (JMU) 24.37
8. 1-meter diving Lara Beth Elder (VT) 245.50
9. 100 Freestyle Allison Keel (JMU) 24.37
10. 200 Backstroke Kelly deMarrais (VT) 2:04.38
11. 200 Breaststroke Millie Campbell (VT) 2:22.09
12. 500 Freestyle Stephanie Jones (VT) 5:05.51
13. 100 Butterfly Becky Horning (VT) 57.61
14. 3-meter diving Lara Beth Elder (VT) 298.10
15. 400 IM Jessica Botzum (VT) 4:30.00
16. 200 Free Relay James Madison 1:38.43
(Keel, Naber, Sparks, Stefinski)
