Swimming: Hagedorn BIG EAST Swimmer of the Year
February 18, 2006 11:58 PM | General
February 19, 2006
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| Chris Hagedorn |
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. - The West Virginia University swimming and diving teams wrapped up the final day of competition at the BIG EAST Championships on Saturday, Feb. 19, with the men taking third and the women finishing eighth at the Nassau County Aquatics Center in East Meadow, N.Y.
The men's third place finish is West Virginia's highest-ever finish at the BIG EAST Championships.
After the meet, senior Chris Hagedorn was named BIG EAST Swimmer of the Year, while head coach Sergio Lopez was named Coach of the Year in just his second season with the Mountaineers.
Since taking the reins as head coach in April 2004, Lopez has quickly made an enormous impact. In just two short seasons, the men went from a seventh place finish in 2004 to a third place finish in 2006. This year the women had their first winning season since 1996 with a record of 5-4-1.
Hagedorn capped off an outstanding career at WVU by capturing six BIG EAST titles at this years championships. On Saturday, he won the 100 free in 44.48, breaking a 20-year old school record and also an NCAA ‘B' time. On Thursday, he took home the 50 free in 19.57, setting new BIG EAST and school records as well as it being an NCAA ‘A' time.
Behind Hagedorn in the 100 free was sophomore Nick Delic in third (44.82) and junior Kyle Williams in tenth (45.65). Freshman Tony Cisneros placed 15th (46.12).
Sophomore Pablo Marmolejo defended his BIG EAST title in the 200 fly by winning in 1:45.56, setting a new school record and an NCAA ‘B' time. Freshman Andrew Langenfeld finished third (1:48.71) with sophomore Eduardo Ramirez in eighth (1:52.15).
Freshman Michael Walker broke the school record in the 200 back with a time of 1:48.57 and good enough for fourth place.
In the 200 breast, sophomore Felipe Cunha came in third (2:01.82) with freshman Casey Beckwith finishing 11th (2:05.43) and freshman Nathan Farmer in 13th (2:05.75).
The men capped off an outstanding four days at the championships by defending their title in the 400 free relay. Hagedorn, senior Rick Mann, freshman Andrew Langenfeld and sophomore Nick Delic combined for the winning time of 2:57.39, a new school record and an NCAA ‘B' time. The Mountaineers won four of the five relays at this years BIG EAST Championships.
For the women, freshman Isabel Perez swam an impressive 200 breast in 2:20.43 and setting a new school record and placing fifth. Freshman Meghan Fiene placed 15th (2:23.44) while senior Megan Carlson came in 16th (2:25.38).
Freshman Taylor Stallings swam to an eighth place finish in the 200 back with a time of 2:03.25 with sophomore Bonnie Sutton coming in 12th (2:05.86).
Senior Ashley Bissett finished tenth in the 1650 free in 17:12.70. Freshman Lindsey Largo was 13th with a time of 17:23.81.
In the 200 fly, freshman Natalie Lautzenheiser was tenth (2:04.60) while Largo came in 16th (2:09.26).
The Mountaineers rewrote the record books at the four day meet as eight BIG EAST champions were crowned, three BIG EAST records were broken and 14 school records were set. Eight swims were good enough for NCAA ‘B' times, while Hagedorn heads to Nationals with his time of 19.57 in the 50 free.
