North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Takes to the Road for Three-Meet Stretch
1/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
Jan. 15, 2004
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The Wolfpack swimming and diving squads have a busy weekend of action ahead. The squad will travel to Charlottesville on Saturday for a 1 p.m. showdown with the nationally-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, then head to James Madison, where men's squad will squad off with the Dukes. The women will race the Richmond Spiders. The Pack will ends its three-day road trip when it comes back to the Triangle to tangle with the Duke Blue Devils.
Live stats will be available for the Pack's meet with Virginia and can be attained by clicking here
. Swimming events will begin at 1 p.m. in the Virginia Aquatic and Fitness Center. Diving will proceed the event at 11:30 a.m.
On Sunday, the Pack will be in Harrisonburg, Va., the home of the James Madison Dukes, and former home to NC State head coach Brooks Teal. Teal was the coach of the Dukes from 1993-2000, before returning to his alma mater to take the helm and continue the tradition of "Red Legend Pride." The meet will begin at noon at the Savage Natatorium.
NC State will conclude its road trip on Monday in Durham against the Blue Devils in a meet scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at the Taishoff Aquatic Center.
WOLFPACK NEWS & NOTES
Tracking the Pack
Busy Road Trip In Store for Wolfpack
Three meets in three days for NC State
The Wolfpack dropped its last outing on the road to the Seminoles, but the road doesn't look friendly for NC State on Saturday as the Pack takes on the defending ACC Champion Virginia men's and women's squads. Sunday, the squads will face the likes of Richmond ad James Madison, before returning to the Triangle for a bout with neighboring Duke on Monday.
The Pack posted a number of solid swims versus the Noles. Sophomore Cullen Jones, who raced in his first meet of the season last weekend, swept the sprint freestyle events and is listed in this week's top-10 list in the ACC. Vitor Assuncao continues his dominance on the boards and enters Saturday's matchup at 16-0 on the 1- and 3-meter boards.
For the women, Rebecca Perry is hot in the sprints, coming off of wins in the 50 and 100. Abby Lewis notched her first collegiate win on Friday with a lifetime best time of 10:17.89 in the 1000 free.
Homage to the Home Teams
Hoos, Dukes and Blue Devils Host Pack
Teal returns to JMU
The Wolfpack will face a tough test when it travels to Charlottesville to meet Virginia. The Wahoos men's team is ranked No. 11 in the latest CSCAA poll, while the women fall in at No. 18. The men's most recent win came against the No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers, 135-106. The women's team competed at the Texas A&M Invite and finished sixth in late November, but have not competed since.
The James Madison (8-2) men's team will host the Pack men on Sunday, while the women will face the Richmond Spiders. Both teams will compete against Duke on Monday. Both Blue Devils squads are 2-3, 0-2.
Teal Returns To JMU: Before returning home to his alma mater in 2000, NC State head coach Brooks Teal coached for James Madison from 1993-2000. While while with the Dukes, Teal posted a record of 47-26-1, while leading the squad to the Colonial Athletics Association championship six of his seven years with the program. He was named the Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1999.
Remember The Times: This weekend the Wolfpack faces Virginia, James Madison (men), Richmond (women) and Duke. Last year, NC State went a combined 4-2 against the four opponents, with its only loses coming against nationally-ranked Cavalier squads. Virginia defeated NC State in Raleigh 156-83 (men) and 153-87 (women).
The Wolfpack defeated JMU 62-39, and took down the Spiders 132-111. The teams swept Duke 147.5-74.5 (men) and 135-108 (women).
Noting the Opponents: UVa's men are 4-1 overall and stand undefeated in the conference at 2-0. Its loss came at the hands of defending national champion and consensus No. 1 Auburn. The women's squad has two losses on its record, both in the first meet of the year to No. 1 Auburn and No. 13 Penn State.
The Richmond women are 4-3 overall, with a number of solid times. A top fixture in the Atlantic 10, they finished second to Maryland in the UMd. Invite, and just recently split a tri-meet with Davidson and Clemson.
The Pack continues ACC action on Monday when it travels to Duke. The Blue Devils men's and women's squads are 2-3, 0-2, with a meet scheduled for Saturday versus Davidson.
Lewis Is At Her Best: Last Friday, sophomore Abby Lewis posted her first collegiate win, and notched a lifetime best in the 1000 free. The Cullowhee, N.C. native touched the wall in a time of 10:17.89.
Keeping Up With the Joneses: There is only one Jones to keep up with, and to be honest, it's going to be tough for competitors this spring. Sophomore Cullen Jones competed in his first meet of the year last weekend and deputed in fine fashion. The Irvington, N.J. native swept the sprint freestyle races and immediately propelled himself into the conference's top-10 list. With a time of 20.42 in the 50 free, he ranks 4th this week, and his time of 45.40 places him 8th in the 100 free.
Jones also swam the final leg of the 400 Medley Relay, splitting the final 100 yards in an amazing time of 43.63, nearly three seconds faster than the other four teams' final leg.
Pack Migrates South For Winter Break: Over the break, the Wolfpack swimming and diving squad travelled south to Orlando for its annual training trip before heading to Tallahassee for a conference meet with Florida State.
While in Orlando, the team went to Island of Adventure, Sea World and Wet & Wild Water Park. Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. The team practiced daily at the Orlando YMCA. The pool had a retractable roof, so many days, it was open so the squad could enjoy the warm rays of the Sunshine State while it was there.
The team also participated in a relay meet with Texas A&M during its stay in Florida.
Brian Pursley and Scott Dettloff were the amusement park ride junkies during the trip. The team was particularly fond of the Dueling Dragons...a ride in which many of the team members rode repetitively before the park closed on Tuesday night.
"We ran over small children to get back in line," one source said jokingly.
Pack Ranks In ACC Elite: Six men and six women have times listed in the top 10 of the ACC this week. Cullen Jones is listed in the 50 and 100 free, Rob Terrell in the 100 and 200 backstroke, Rob Yeager in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, Vitor Assuncao on the 1- and 3-meter boards, Scott Dettloff in the 200 fly, and Brian Pursley in the 200 breaststroke.
For the women, Rebecca Perry has times listed in the 50 and 100 free, and the 100 back, Molly Culberson and Christy Welch are listed on the 1- and 3-meter boards, Laura Cutler in the 200 fly, Lola Woodworth in the 100 breaststroke, and Karen Burbella in the 400 IM.
