The members of the Utah women?s swim team want to pick on someone their own age.
After losing to former U swimmers in the first-ever Crimson and White Alumni Meet Oct. 6, the women will team up with the men, gearing up for the opening meet of the 2001-02 season.
Both men?s and women?s swim teams hit the water for the first time at the Colorado State Early Bird Invitational starting today.
?We are excited to open the 2001-02 season. This is always a good event to start with, since we get the chance to compete against other Mountain West teams,? said U coach Michael Litzinger.
In the alumni matchup, Litzinger saw sophomore Neringa Statkevicuite win the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle. Captain Amber Nye claimed a win in the 50-meter backstroke. Sophomore Kristen Kaiser cannot be forgotten after the effort she had at the Early Bird last year. As a freshman, Kaiser brought home first place in the 400 meter individual medley and the 1,650-meter free competition. Kaiser also swam to a second-place showing in the 500-meter free.
For the men, Evan Castro should do well after an impressive alumni meet. The freshman swam to top honors in the 50-meter breaststroke and 200-meter free. Daniel Godfrey won the 100-meter IM. Returning juniors David Fleisch and Stephen Linge also cannot be overlooked. At the 2000-01 opener, Fleisch registered a win in the 200-meter IM and a third-place showing in the 400 meter IM. Linge placed second in the 100-meter butterfly and third in the 200-meter IM.
Litzinger thinks the weekend swimming exposition in Fort Collins, Colo., should be a useful measuring stick for both teams for the early going.
?This gives us an idea of what to expect from the early part of our dual meets,? he said.
The tournament starts today at 5 p.m. and runs through Saturday.