Jan. 22, 2010
FAIRFAX, Va. - - The Monarchs and Lady Monarchs swimming and diving teams return to the pool on Saturday to take on George Mason, American and Army after a split win in their final meet at home over the East Carolina Pirates last Saturday.
George Mason's men's and women's swimming and diving teams are also coming off a split win against Towson as the men piled up 11 first-place finishes to post a 183-106 victory. The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honored the Patriot's Bryan Bahr and Kristen Meier this week as the Men's and Women's Diver of the Week, respectively. Bahr recorded a score of 293.18 on the one-meter board and 329.55 in the three-meter against Towson. Bahr currently ranks in the top-five in each diving event this season.
Army men (7-2) and women (3-7) swimming and diving teams will return to the pool after the men posted a pair of wins versus Patriot League foes Leigh and Bucknell last weekend. Senior James McLaughlin lauded Patriot League Male Swimmer of the Week and Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week honors. McLaughlin registered first-place finishes in both the 100-yard and 200-yard breast events in two weekend victories. His fastest 100 breast (57.60) and 200 breast (2:07.39) times over the weekend are among the top-five fastest in the league this season. Freshman Chris Nguyen was crowned Patriot League Men's Diver of the Week. Nguyen picked up a pair of first-place finishes over the weekend, including Friday from the three-meter board against Lehigh (248.17) and Saturday in the one-meter event (285.37) versus Bucknell. He also took second in the one-meter against the Mountain Hawks and third from the three-meter versus the Bison.
American University men's and women's swimming and diving squads are coming off a split against Georgetown, with the men pulling out the impressive victory over the Hoyas (120.5 - 118.5). Senior Matt Pelletier and sophomore Sean McNamara each won two events for American on the men's side, while juniors Dory Isaacs and Eleanor Clay and sophomore Alexandra Wessel took victories for the women.
ODU men's team (4-1) features student-athletes in the top ten in the CAA in all events but two, the 500 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Sophomore Arni Mar Arnason, (Msfellsbaer, Iceland) has the CAA's best-time in the 100 breaststroke (55.68). He is ranked in the top-ten in five individual events in the CAA. Freshman Jason Brame, (Lynchburg, VA) is ranked third in the CAA in the 1000 freestyle (9:44:39) behind second place George Mason sophomore Preston Wolter (9:43:00)
The Lady Monarch's (3-4) are led by junior April Barrientos (Virginia Beach, VA) with the best-time in the CAA in the 100 Backstroke (55.85) and ranked in the top five in the 200 backstroke. Sophomore Erla Haraldsdottir is ranked in the top ten in the CAA in 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 200 individual medley.Following the quad meet in Fairfax, Virginia this weekend, the Old Dominion men's and women's swimming and diving teams will travel to Annapolis, Maryland for the Navy International on January 30th.