North Carolina State University Athletics
Men's Swimming & Diving Ready For ACC Championships
2/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
Feb. 26, 2003
Chapel Hill, N.C. - The NC State men's swimming and diving team will take to the pool for action on Thursday, February 27, at the Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill for the 50th edition of the Men's ACC Championships. Preliminary swims will begin at 11 a.m. and finals will follow at 7 p.m. Action will continue through Saturday evening when the conference champion is crowned.
Thursday's slate is set to feature the league's top freestyle and medley swimmers. One-meter diving preliminaries and finals will also be held.
Jack Deal is one of the league's top young distance freestylers. Deal stands as a scoring threat in the 200-, 500- and 1650 freestyle races over the course of the championships. Other likely top finishers include Pete Pessagno, Chris Nixon and Dan Kesler. John Hudson, Cullen Jones and Scott Detloff look to reach the evening competition in the sprint and mid-distance events.
Cristian Rojas could potentially finish in Thursday night's championship final of the 200 IM. Rojas has been one of the team's top competitors throughout the season and has posted one of the league's top-10 times in the event. Rob Yeager also looks to be a promising talent in the event and finish high in the standings. Steven Cowling, Rick Scott and Kevin Barkley will also compete in the event.
A trio of divers will aim for the finals as well. Jared Bench finished in scoring position for the Wolfpack last season at the championships and will look to move to the finals. Freshman TJ Ferguson burst onto the scene for the team this year hopes to make the same kind of impact in his championship debut. Steve House will add scoring potential as well.
As the championships progress, look for Detloff and Jones to finish well in the butterfly events, and for Brian Pursley and Yeager to pack a strong one-two punch in the breaststroke. Barkley continues to improve in the backstroke, along with support from Steven Cowling and Robert Terrell.
Throughout the course of the championships, the ACC will recognize members of its 50th Anniversary Team. NC State boasts 12 names on the roster including: Tony Corliss, Dick Fagden, Peter Fogarassey, David Fox, Duncan Goodhew, Steve Gregg, Dan Harrigan, Braden Halloway, Eddie Houchin, Steve Rerych, Ed Spencer and Jim Umbdenstock.
Admission to the men's championships is free to the public. Listed below are the scheduled events.
Thursday, February 27, 2003
200-Yard Freestyle Relay
500-Yard Freestyle
200-Yard Individual Medley
50-Yard Freestyle
One Meter Diving (Prelims and Finals)
400-Yard Medley Relay
Friday, February 28, 2003
200-Yard Medley Relay
400-Yard Individual Medley
100-Yard Butterfly
200-Yard Freestyle
100-Yard Breaststroke
100-Yard Backstroke
800-Yard Freestyle Relay
Three-Meter Diving (Preliminaries)
Saturday, March 1, 2003
1650-Yard Freestyle
200-Yard Backstroke
100-Yard Freestyle
200-Yard Breaststroke
200-Yard Butterfly
Three-Meter Diving (Finals)
400-Yard Freestyle Relay
