Feb. 18, 2003

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Big 12 Championships Information - For the Latest Updates

Texas Hosts the 2003 Phillips 66 Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships

For the sixth time in the Big 12's seven-year tenure, a league swimming and diving championship will take place at Jamail Texas Swimming Center on the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns' hosted previous women's championships in 1998-99 and 2001 and the men's in 1999 and 2001. Texas A&M sponsored the rest of the conference championships (both men's and women's - 1997, 2000 and 2002; men's 1998), which include the Big 12's inaugural year at the Student Recreation Center Natatorium.

Last year's event marked the first time since 1997 that the men's and women's championships were combined.


Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center

During the summer of 2001, the University of Texas began construction on a $3 million renovation to the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Already regarded as one of the finest and fastest collegiate swimming centers in the country, the Jamail Texas Swim Center has now been upgraded into a category of its own. The 50-meter pool, which holds 880,000 gallons of water, added a newly-remodeled, moveable bulkhead and new underwater windows. The bulkhead was constructed out of 25,000 pounds of aluminum and engineered to run on a track; they also can be raised to the ceiling in order to alter lane lengths for different events. The underwater windows were constructed out of four-layered, heat-strengthened glass, enabling light to enter the pool and allowing for an interesting spectator view. The swim center also reconstructed its patio entrance, as well as adding a new handicap seating area, which are both ADA certified. Additionally, a high-tech sound booth overlooking the entire complex has been constructed with new theatre-quality speakers which have been installed throughout the facility.

The facility was modeled after the pool used for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. It officially opened its doors to competitors in 1979 and was built to accommodate competitive swimming, diving and water polo events in scholastic, collegiate, US Swimming, FINA, and Olympic categories.

The Jamail Center will be the site of the 2003 NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championship, March 27-29.


Phillips 66 Sponsors Swimming & Diving Championships

Phillips has been a sponsor of college athletics for many years and the company's biggest sponsorship is with the Big 12 Conference. Phillips sponsors Big 12 basketball along with the conference tournaments for basketball and baseball, plus the swimming and diving championships. Phillips also has sponsorships with Conference USA and the Big 10, Big South, Missouri Valley and Mountain West conferences. It also has sponsored USA Swimming since 1973.



MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW


Texas' National and Conference Dominance

The University of Texas has dominated the men's swimming and diving scene on the national and conference level for the past couple of decades. Since the inception of Big 12 Conference competition during the 1996-97 academic year, the Longhorns have won all six league titles and have been crowned national champions three times, including last season when they captured their third consecutive triumph. National Coach of the Year Eddie Reese has guided Texas to 22 consecutive league championships dating back to when it was a member of the Southwestern Conference, and, seven of the last 14 NCAA titles (nine overall for UT) in his 24 years at the helm of the UT program.

Texas won 19 of the 21 events in 2002. Leading the way for the `Horns is junior Ian Crocker who has won 11 individual titles: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard medley relay in 2001 and 2002; and the 800-yard freestyle relay in 2002. UT also returns the 2002 Outstanding Swimmers of the Meet Brendan Hansen (2002 Men's Swimmer of the Year and 2001 Men's Newcomer of the Year), Chris Kemp (2000 Men's Newcomer of the Year) and Rainer Kendrick (2002 Men's Newcomer of the Year). They are repeat champions as well (see attached record book). Hansen (100- and 200-yard breaststroke) and Crocker (100-yard butterfly) were also national individual champions in 2002.


Texas A&M Looks To Get Over The Runner-Up Hump

The Aggies have finished second at the Big 12 meet each of the last two years.

Last year, A&M had three different swimmers win individual conference titles. Current junior Matt Rose won the Big 12 100-yard freestyle title in College Station a year ago with a lifetime-best of 43.71 seconds. Another junior, Scott Mueller, grabbed the A&M school record and the Big 12 title with a 3:51.11 clocking in the 400 individual medley. Riley Janes, a senior on last year's team won the 100 backstroke as well.

The Aggies bring a very young team into the conference meet. A&M will carry 16 underclassmen and nine upperclassmen to Austin on Wednesday.

Rose looks to be A&M's top weapon entering the meet. He leads the Big 12 list, and is 11th nationally, in the 50 freestyle at 20.10, a time he swam against SMU the last time the Aggies competed. Rose sits in the No. 2 spot in the conference in the event in which he will attempt to defend his conference title, the 100 freestyle (44.38). He also ranks second in the conference in the 100 backstroke with an NCAA consideration time of 48.76.


Missouri Hopes to Carry Success From the Season Into The Championships

The Tigers finished third in 2002 but will bring seasoned veterans back to the championships this year with an opportunity produce more points. Mizzou returned 15 letterwinners and lost only one from last season's squad.

During the 2002-03 regular season, MU excelled in diving. The Tigers won four of the six league divers of the month awards, more than any other school did in swimming or diving.

The Tigers will be led by return champion and senior Matt Ferrarelli, who won the 400-yard IM in 2001. Last year at the championships, the Retford Notts, England, native suffered an injury before the Big 12 meet and struggled in the only event he was able to compete in and was unable to defend his title. He currently has the fastest time in the conference in the 200-yard IM (1:49.74). Ferrarelli was named the November II Swimmer of the Month and the CollegeSwiming.Com National Swimmer of the Week for the week of Nov. 26 - Dec.1.

In diving action, freshman Evan Watters paces the conference in three-meter championship diving with a 565.15 point total. But, senior Jamie Sweeney provides the experience to the pool for the Tigers after qualifying for the NCAA Zones three times. The two-time Big 12 Diver of the Month in 2002-03, Sweeney set school records and career bests in the one-meter dual contest (Drury - Jan. 24) and three-meter dual diving competition (Iowa - Jan. 31) last month -- in addition to qualifying for the NCAA Diving Zones in both events.

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW


Big 12 Women's Championship History

The Texas women have won the last four league championships (1999-2002). Nebraska claimed the first two titles in 1997 and 1998. Much like in the men's competition, UT has posted the most individual victories at the championships in the last few years. But, it's Texas A&M who has taken over the reigns in diving as of late - sweeping all three diving contests last season.


Texas On A Roll

UT could earn its fifth consecutive league team victory this week in its home pool. Senior All-American Joscelin Yeo will look to finish her career in the Big 12 with a splash. Last year, the three-time Olympian for the Republic of Singapore, was voted the Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet for her efforts -- Yeo won gold medals in seven races.

The Longhorns won 16 of the 21 events en route to the league crown and blowing away their closest competition in A&M by 380 points.

Other standouts who will help Texas defend their title include 2002 Women's Swimmer of the Year Erin Phenix, Tanica Jamison, Sarah Wanezek, Summer Mitchell and Nicole Pohorenec.

During the 2002-03 campaign Texas has proven that it belongs at the top of the collegiate rankings with wins over other top programs such as then-No. 5 SMU and No. 6 Arizona. UT's three losses came against higher-ranked opponents at the time of the dual Stanford (No. 2), Florida (No. 2) and Georgia (No. 3). The team had a league-leading seven swimmers and divers earn Big 12 monthly accolades.


Aggies Rely on Fountain of Youth

The Aggies have finished in the runner-up slot at the Big 12 meet for each of the past three years, the same number of years Steve Bultman has been A&M's head coach. Prior to 2000, A&M had never finished higher than third at any Big 12 or Southwest Conference meet.

A year ago, Steve Bultman and Kevin Wright earned Big 12 Swimming Coach and Diving Coach of the Meet Honors, respectively. Bultman went on to win Big 12 Women's Coach of the Year honors as well. Wright has been named either Big 12 Men's or Women's Diving Coach of the Meet for each of the six years that the Big 12 Conference has existed.

The Aggies bring an extremely young group to the 2003 conference meet. Only eight of A&M's 25 athletes are upperclassmen. In addition, the Aggies only have two seniors, and one of those, Karri Tibball, is a junior from an eligibility standpoint. Freshmen, sophomores and newcomers account for 13 of A&M's 16 event-leading performances.


Missouri Enjoys Record-Breaking Regular Season

The Tigers recorded the most dual wins in a season for a Tiger squad with 13 and only lost one en route to this accomplishment.

For the second season in a row the Tigers went undefeated in conference action. Over the past two seasons they are 8-0 in conference duals. While MU has been ranked all season, peaking at No. 19 in the CSCAA poll on November 27, the highest ranking in school history.

The team broke three school records this season, two University Natatorium pool records and a pool record at the IMPE Pool in Champaign, Illinois.

In a continuation of the record-setting trend Mizzou has established this season, the team might be able to carry the momentum built during the season into the championships and surpass last year's third-place performance, its highest finish in Big 12 history.


Iowa State Heads Into Championships With A Two-Dual Win Streak

The Cylcones ended the regular season on a good note with victories over conference foes Kansas and Nebraska. They look to their most experienced swimmers junior Petra Plaminkova and senior Carmella Nogar.

After coming in sixth place 1997-2000, ISU has moved up a notch in each of the last two years. At the 2002 Championships, Iowa State posted its best performance ever at a Big 12 Championship in fourth place. The Cyclones were able to break 11 school records at the event.

Iowa State looks to further its impressive progress by winning its first individual title(s) for the first time since 1999 when former Cyclone Kim Reid won the 100-yard breastroke consecutively in 1998 and `99. That victory could come in the diving portion of the championship as ISU divers sophomores Gail Olson Alicia Adsit, Katie Herman and freshman Hillary Nichols have been near the top of the league diving ranks and consistent throughout the season.


Kansas Looks To Improve On Last Year's Fifth-Place Outing Under the Direction of First-Year Head Coach Clark Campbell

Kansas finished in fifth place with a total score of 487.5 at the 2002 Big 12 Championships in College Station, Texas. At last year's Big 12 Championships, Gwen Haley took fourth place in the 400 IM and Miranda Isaac finished in fourth place in the 200 breaststroke, good for the Jayhawks' best finishes at the meet. KU placed in the top-five in five events at the 2002 Big 12 Championships.

The Crimson and Blue's highest team finish at a Big 12 championship meet is third, which it has done twice in 1997 and 1999.

This season, Amy Gruber won the first Big 12 Swimmer of the Month award since the 1997-98 season when Kristin Nilsen earned the title in November 1997.


Nebraska Takes Steps In The Right Direction To Continue Rebuilding Its Program

The Huskers head into the meet after one of the toughest dual meet schedules in school history. NU faced each of the other five Big 12 swimming and diving opponents in the same season for the first time since the formation of the conference in 1997.

Despite the tough schedule, the Huskers recorded three wins in dual action, and on Nov. 8, when NU downed Wyoming, 141-100, head coach Pablo Morales recorded his first dual meet win at Nebraska.

Another milestone occurred this season for the Huskers. Amie Buoy became the first NU diver to win Female Diver of the Month in the conference's seven-year tenure.

Nebraska hopes to return to the top of the Big 12 soon after winning the league titles in 1997 and 1998.