Swimming and Diving: BIG EAST Preview
February 19, 2008 04:30 PM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
February 19, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams travel to the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow, N.Y., for the BIG EAST Championships on Feb. 20-23.
Last season the Mountaineers made history when the men’s team won the BIG EAST Championships for the first time in school history, while the women’s team finished in a program-best third-place.
After a remarkable 2007-08 season, the Mountaineers look to have another good showing at the BIG EAST Championships. BIG EAST events will also serve as qualifying times for the NCAA Championships to be held next month.
“I think we have a good an opportunity to swim well. I am excited because it is my first time at the BIG EAST Championships,” says WVU Head Coach Vic Riggs. “I think the team is looking good.”
So far this season the Mountaineers have swam their way to a 2-3 record in BIG EAST competition. The Mountaineers have posted wins against Georgetown and Cincinnati, while falling to Louisville, Pitt and Notre Dame.
On the men’s side, look for the leadership of seniors Nick Delic and Kevin Donohue to guide the Mountaineers through the competition. Delic enters the championships with the top league time, and a NCAA ‘B’ cut qualifying time, in the 100 fly (48.12). He also has the third-best time in the 50 free (20.74) and the fourth-best time in the 100 free (45.57). Donohue leads the league in the 100 breast with a NCAA ‘B’ cut time of 54.66.
Also expected to place is sophomore Michael Walker who holds fourth-best times in the men’s 200 IM (1:51.33) and 400 IM (3:57.05).
“Nick has a good opportunity and so does Michael to win some events and score some points for us,” says Riggs. “We need to have some kids score points who haven’t in the past.”
On the women’s team, sophomores Morgan Callaway and Kayla Andrews both enter the meet with two top BIG EAST times. Andrews holds league-best times in the 50 free (23.03), which is a NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time, and the 100 free (49.52). Callaway holds the top finishes and NCAA ‘B’ qualifying times in the 100 back (55.46) and the 500 free (4:51.04).
“The women’s team has a good opportunity to be anywhere from second to fourth if they swim well,” says Riggs.
The Mountaineers’ relay teams also enter the BIG EAST Championships on a good note. On the men’s side the Mountaineers hold second-best times in the 200 Medley Relay (1:31.28) and in the 400 Medley Relay (3:19.22). On the women’s side the Mountaineers enter the meet with top BIG EAST times in the 800 Free (7:28.02), the 200 Medley Relay (1:42.54) and second-best times in the 400 Free (3:24.67) and the 400 Medley Relay (3:43.62).
“We are going to be very competitive in the women’s relays and should have top performances across the board,” adds Riggs. “On the men’s side, our strongest events are in the 200 and 400 medley.”
Results will be posted on the BIG EAST website, www.bigeast.org, after each session while live video streaming of each event available through the BIG EAST Championship Central page.
