NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University swimming and diving takes on East Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. in the final home meet of the season. The diving competition will start at 9 a.m. Prior to the match ODU will honor its six seniors in a pre-meet celebration.
The Monarchs are coming off a solid outing at the FIU Invitational over Christmas break, with the men taking first place and the women finishing sixth.
Sidni Hoxha won a pair of races for the men while Vitor Sa and Eddie Hubert both won events.
ODU ended the 2013 season at the prestigious Nike Cup, as senior Sidni Hoxha set a school and Nike Cup record with a 43.43 time in the 100 free and also broke the school mark in the 50 free with a time of 19.44 to win both events.
Yesim Giresunlu set the school record in the 500 free with a time of 4:49.74 while Rachel Eckert won the 1-meter dive and took third in the 3-meter dive.
The East Carolina men’s team is coming in with a 3-1 record, with wins over Davidson, Limestone and College of Charleston, and a loss to South Carolina.
The women’s team is a perfect 6-0, with wins over Davidson, Limestone, South Carolina, Richmond, College of Charleston and Georgia Southern.
The Pirate men finished fifth at the Nike Cup in November, while the women finished in second.
ODU will honor its six seniors prior to the start of the meet including, Daniel Chalfant, Jason Haigh, Sidni Hoxha, Ryan Telep, Christine Canty and Abby Vance.
Daniel Chalfant – Alexandria, Va.
Chalfant competed in the 200 backstroke and 100 fly at the 2013 CAA Championships. He won the 200 back against George Washington last year. Chalfant is a transfer from Lewis University. He will graduate with a degree in criminal justice.
Jason Haigh – Williamsburg, Va.
Haigh has the second fastest time in school history in the 200 breast stroke with a time of 2:01.30 and the third fastest in the 100 breast at 55.80. He was a member of the 400 medley relay team that took third at last year’s CAA Tournament. He has earned All-CAA honors in the 100 and 200 breast. Haigh will graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Sidni Hoxha – Tirane, Albania
Hoxha holds the school record in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, and was also a member of five relay teams that hold school records. He was named 2013 CAA Swimmer of the Year and the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the CAA Championships after winning five medals. He made the NCAA Tournament in the 50 and 100 freestyle. A two-time Olympian for his native Albania, he swam in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He will graduate with a degree in civil engineering.
Ryan Telep – Chandler, Ariz.
Telep has the fourth best time in Old Dominion history in the 200 back stroke with a time of 1:50.37 and has the fifth best time in the 400 IM and is eighth in the 200 IM. He will graduate with a degree in political science.
Christine Canty – Burke, Va.
She swam in three events at the 2013 CAA Championships, the 100 and 200 back stroke, and the 200 IM. She will graduate with a degree in sociology.
Abby Vance – Raleigh, N.C.
Vance took fourth place at the 2013 CAA Championships in the 1650 freestyle and has the fifth best time in the event in ODU history. Her time of 4:53.89 is the second-best time in school history. She was also a part of the 400 free relay team that has the third-best time in school history. Vance will graduate with a degree in criminal justice.