Saluki Men And Women Sweep MVC Swimming And Diving Championships
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Feb. 23, 2002
CARBONDALE, Ill. - A dominating team performance by both the men's and women's swimming and diving teams resulted in a Missouri Valley Conference Championship for both teams on the third and last day of the championship at Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium. The women claimed their fifth title in a row and seventh title in eight years, while the men won their sixth title in the same time span and first since the 1999 championships. This is the first time that a men's and women's team has swept both titles since SIU did it at the 1999 championships.
The women's team built on their lead from Friday and easily outscored second place Evansville 833-705.5. Southwest Missouri (622), Illinois State (540), Northern Iowa (382.5) and Bradley (188) rounded out the teams.
"It's pretty cool. It's not really what the coaching staff does, it's the quality of athletes that we got. But it's nice to have great coaches in (Chris) Gally and Donnie (Torres) and we always work closely with the men's team. But ultimately it boils down to the athletes that perform and they deserve the credit," commented women's swimming and diving head coach jeff Goelz on the fifth straight championship.
The men's team held off a late charge by defending champion Southwest Missouri and eventually won 940.5-912, followed by Evansville (570), Northern Iowa (444) and Bradley (236.5).
"The past two years having lost by a combination of 30 points, there is know doubt in my mind that this is was the sweetest victory I've had here at SIU in 15 years. I do not want to say that this is the best group we ever had, but I have never witnessed a better fought, harder fought, more determined group than the one I just witnessed this weekend," commented men's swimming and diving head coach Rick Walker.
In her last collegiate meet senior Brooke Radostits showed why she is the best backstroke swimmer in conference history by successfully defending her 200 backstroke title with a time of 2:01.82. She would team up with fellow seniors Courtney Corder, Jenna Meckler and freshman Rachel Green and help lead the 400 freestyle relay team to victory on the last event of the championship meet (3:30.12).
Sophomore Leane Pienaar defended her 1,650 freestyle title, winning the event with a time of 17:14.70. Brigitta Olson continued SIU's winning ways with a victory in the 200 butterfly (2:06.38).
Other top performers included Senior Mary Trailov finishing second in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.84), senior Dana Morrell third place finish in the 200 backstroke (2:05.80), junior Amber Mullins placed second behind Pienaar with a time of 17:16.03, and senior diver finishing her collegiate career with a seventh place finish in the 3-meter dive (391.95).
The men's team was led by a record breaking performance by freshman Brent Menghini in the 200 butterfly. His time of 1:48.71 broke the conference championship mark of 1:49.41 set by former Saluki Chris Pelant in 1994.
Senior Chrysanthos Papachrysanthou ended his Saluki career with a victory in the 100 freestyle (45.36) and a third place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:06.50) with fellow senior Jeremiah Cortez and sophomores Matt Glowacki and Edoardo Daelli. Senior Corne Prozesky added his third straight conference title in the 200 breastroke, winning the event with a time of 2:03.33.
After the meet Saluki head coaches for both the men and the women were selected as 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Coaches of the Year for their teams performances. For Coach Walker it is the fourth time he has been awarded this honor. Coach Goelz won his second straight award.
"That's a reflection on them, that is not my job, I don't think there really is a coach of the year, there are a lot of coaches who work their rear ends off and I think that's a reflection of the athletes. For that award I thank the athletes, I would not have gotten that award if they would not have done the job they did," said Walker.
MEET NOTES: Bradley University Head Coach Jane Austin was awarded co-coach of the year by a unanimous vote by her colleagues, this was the last swim meet for the Bradley swimming and diving program...The Evansville men's 400 freestyle relay team broke the conference record with a time of 3:00.71, besting the 200 SIU time of 3:00.83...Josh Wegrzyn of Southwest Missouri set a new conference record time in the 200 backstroke (1:46.58), breaking the record he previously held.