Oct. 4, 2004
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THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will compete in the Black & Gold Intrasquad meet Saturday at the Fieldhouse Pool. Competition is set to begin at 9 a.m. There is no admission charge.
WOMEN’S SEASON PREVIEW — After a 3-7 campaign last year and a ninth place finish at Big Tens, Head Coach Marc Long hopes to return the Hawkeyes to the NCAA Championships. An experienced group of 10 seniors lead the way, including all-American Jennifer Skolaski. Skolaski put forth an impressive showing at Big Tens last season, earning second-team all-Big Ten honors. She also competed at the NCAA Championships for the third straight year. Senior Lisette Planken and junior Nancilea Underwood return after competing at the U.S. Olympic diving trials last summer and receiving an Olympic redshirt for the 2003-04 season.
MEN’S SEASON PREVIEW — Continued improvement will be one of the goals for the 2004-05 men’s swimming and diving team. The Hawkeyes posted an 8-4 mark last season, but were disappointed with their ninth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships. Leading the way this season will be seniors Cal Shelangoski, Elliot Ptasnik and Andrei Ciurca, junior Trevor Haley and sophomores Tomasz Dziedzic and Mariusz Muras. Dziedzic was named the team MVP last year, leading the squad in the 100 and 200 free, 100 fly and 200 individual medley and swimming on the school-record setting 200 medley relay. Davey also expects strong leadership from the team co-captains Natan Pheil and Eric Hahn.
WOMEN’S HEAD COACH Marc Long — Former Hawkeye assistant coach Marc Long enters his first season as interim head coach after serving two seasons as assistant. Prior to joining the women’s swimming program, Long served as Iowa’s assistant men’s swimming coach from 1998-2001. As a Hawkeye swimmer, Long was a six-time all-American, a two-time Big Ten Champion and a two-time first team all-Big Ten selection. He is assisted by former Hawkeye swimmer Frannie DeBord.
MEN’S HEAD COACH John Davey — Former Hawkeye all-American John Davey is in his seventh year as head swim coach. He has an 18-33 overall mark at Iowa, going 8-4 last season. Davey is the only Big Ten athlete in any sport to ever be named conference Athlete of the Year in their sport four consecutive years. While at Iowa, Davey won 10 Big Ten titles and was a 10-time all-American. He is assisted by former Wisconsin all-American Robert Pinter.
DIVING COACH Bob Rydze — Bob Rydze is in his 30th year as diving coach of the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Iowa, and is the dean of Big Ten swimming and diving coaches.