HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 31, 2008) The University of Houston swimming and diving team begins its final week of the regular season at 5 p.m., Friday as it travels to College Station to face No. 6 Texas A&M at the Student Rec Natatorium.
The Cougars (8-7) will be looking to snap a four-meet losing streak after being swept by No. 24 LSU and Conference USA rival Rice last weekend at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.
At that meet, freshman diver Courtney Forcucci swept both springboard events to lead UH. For her impressive efforts, she was honored earlier this week as the C-USA Diver of the Week, the second time this season she has received the league's weekly award.
On the swimming side, a pair of juniors has led the Cougars this season. Sasha Schwendenwein has posted UH season-best times in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle events as well as the 200-yard butterfly and the 100-yard backstroke.
Andrea Pa'lmai leads UH in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and the 200- and 400-yard individual medley. The Budapest, Hungary, native joined Forcucci as the only event winners last weekend after finishing first in the 400-yard individual medley.
Following their showdown against the Aggies, the Cougars return home to play host to New Orleans at 11:30 a.m., Saturday at the CRWC Natatorium. Fans should note that Saturday's starting time was recently changed from earlier published schedules.
Prior to the UNO, the Cougars will hold a ceremony to honor their 2008 seniors. The meet is free and open to the public, which is invited to attend.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Courtney Forcucci Named C-USA Diver of the Week
HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 29, 2008) University of Houston freshman Courtney Forcucci was named Conference USA Diver of the week on Tuesday.Forcucci was the leading performer in last weekend’s meets, sweeping both events against Rice and No. 24 LSU. The Fort Mill, S.C., native won the 3-meter springboard, finishing nearly 40 points ahead of her competitor, with a season best of 332.03 points.
Her second win came during the 1-meter competition with 293.85 points, finishing more than 13 points ahead of the second-place competitor.
This was Forcucci’s second weekly honor for the 2007-08 season. She was first honored on Nov. 6, 2007.
The Cougar Swimming and Diving team will wrap up the regular season at 5 p.m., Friday, at No. 6 Texas A&M. The Cougars return home to play host to New Orleans at 11:30 a.m., Saturday at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.
Fans should note that Saturday’s meet time was recently changed from earlier published schedules.
Following more than a three-week break UH will play host to the 2008 Conference USA Championship and Invitational. It begins Feb. 27 and runs through March 1 at the CRWC Natatorium. Other teams participating in the Championship are defending champion SMU, Rice, East Carolina, Marshall, Cal State Bakersfield, and Northern Colorado.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Houston Swimming and Diving Swept by LSU and Rice on Saturday
HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 26, 2008) For the second straight day, University of Houston freshman Courtney Forcucci claimed top honors in a diving event to lead the Cougar Swimming & Diving team during the final day of a tri-meet against No. 24 LSU and Conference USA rival Rice on Friday at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.
Forcucci scored 293.85 points on the 1-meter springboard to finish more than 13 points ahead of her closest competitor. The Fort Mill, S.C., native was the only diver to record at least 293.00 points in both events after winning the 3-meter competition Friday evening.
Teammates Ginni van Katwijk and Lacey Truelove finished third and fourth, respectively, to lead the Cougars.
Junior Andrea Pa’lmai led the Cougar swimmers after winning the 400-yard individual medley during the final individual event of the day. The Budapest, Hungary, native finished more than four seconds ahead of her closest competitor.
The Cougars dropped both meets to their rivals, falling 240-102 to the 24th-ranked Tigers and 225-117 to Rice. LSU swept the two-day meet with a 240-102 win over Rice.
With the losses, the Cougars lost their fourth straight and fell to 8-7 overall in dual meets this season.
The Cougars return to action next weekend with their final two meets of the regular season. UH faces No. 6 Texas A&M at 5 p.m., Friday at the Student Rec Center Natatorium.
From there, the team wraps up the regular season when it plays host to New Orleans at 11:30 a.m., Saturday at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.
Fans should note that Saturday’s starting time was recently changed from earlier published schedules.
Forcucci scored 293.85 points on the 1-meter springboard to finish more than 13 points ahead of her closest competitor. The Fort Mill, S.C., native was the only diver to record at least 293.00 points in both events after winning the 3-meter competition Friday evening.
Teammates Ginni van Katwijk and Lacey Truelove finished third and fourth, respectively, to lead the Cougars.
Junior Andrea Pa’lmai led the Cougar swimmers after winning the 400-yard individual medley during the final individual event of the day. The Budapest, Hungary, native finished more than four seconds ahead of her closest competitor.
The Cougars dropped both meets to their rivals, falling 240-102 to the 24th-ranked Tigers and 225-117 to Rice. LSU swept the two-day meet with a 240-102 win over Rice.
With the losses, the Cougars lost their fourth straight and fell to 8-7 overall in dual meets this season.
The Cougars return to action next weekend with their final two meets of the regular season. UH faces No. 6 Texas A&M at 5 p.m., Friday at the Student Rec Center Natatorium.
From there, the team wraps up the regular season when it plays host to New Orleans at 11:30 a.m., Saturday at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.
Fans should note that Saturday’s starting time was recently changed from earlier published schedules.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
FROGS TO HOST SMU, NEW MEXICO THIS WEEKEND
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (January 24, 2008) The TCU men’s swimming and diving team will play host to No. 24 SMU on Friday at 6 p.m. at the University Recreation Center, followed by a Saturday contest between the TCU women’s team and New Mexico at 12 p.m.
The men’s team (6-3, 2-3) is coming off of a 95-88 win at Centenary, where the
Frogs broke six Centenary Fitness Center records. Senior Scott McCracken broke
the 50-free (21.07) and 100-free (47.34), while Ben Biefnes (200-breast), Jeff
Gettel (200-back) and Jason Hauck (200-fly) also set new pool marks.
The Frogs will renew their rivalry with SMU for the first time since the 2004-05
season on Friday. The Mustangs are currently ranked No. 24 nationally and are
4-1 overall this season, with their lone loss coming to No. 4 Arizona.
The women’s team (5-7, 1-6) also had a successful showing last weekend, setting
five new Centenary Fitness Center records en route to a 102-73 victory. The
200-medley relay team of Brittney Martinez, Ellie Bradley, Mychala Lynch and
Nikki Pappas began the meet by breaking the pool record with a time of 1:51.24.
The 200-free relay team of Lynch, Martinez, Meredith Grubb and Pappas also ended
the meet on a positive note, setting a new pool mark of 1:40.36. Freshman
Jessica Miles broke the old pool record in the 200-fly with a time of 2:10.38,
while Cheryl Townsend set a new mark in the 200-back (2:08.84) and Katie Rosen
shattered the 200-breast record with a time of 2:27.26.
The Frogs have faced New Mexico twice in Albuquerque since joining the Mountain
West Conference, taking both meets, including a 132-97 victory a year ago.
The seniors on the men’s team will be honored on Friday night prior to the start
of the meet against SMU, while the seniors on the women’s squad will be
recognized before Saturday’s meet.
The men’s team (6-3, 2-3) is coming off of a 95-88 win at Centenary, where the
Frogs broke six Centenary Fitness Center records. Senior Scott McCracken broke
the 50-free (21.07) and 100-free (47.34), while Ben Biefnes (200-breast), Jeff
Gettel (200-back) and Jason Hauck (200-fly) also set new pool marks.
The Frogs will renew their rivalry with SMU for the first time since the 2004-05
season on Friday. The Mustangs are currently ranked No. 24 nationally and are
4-1 overall this season, with their lone loss coming to No. 4 Arizona.
The women’s team (5-7, 1-6) also had a successful showing last weekend, setting
five new Centenary Fitness Center records en route to a 102-73 victory. The
200-medley relay team of Brittney Martinez, Ellie Bradley, Mychala Lynch and
Nikki Pappas began the meet by breaking the pool record with a time of 1:51.24.
The 200-free relay team of Lynch, Martinez, Meredith Grubb and Pappas also ended
the meet on a positive note, setting a new pool mark of 1:40.36. Freshman
Jessica Miles broke the old pool record in the 200-fly with a time of 2:10.38,
while Cheryl Townsend set a new mark in the 200-back (2:08.84) and Katie Rosen
shattered the 200-breast record with a time of 2:27.26.
The Frogs have faced New Mexico twice in Albuquerque since joining the Mountain
West Conference, taking both meets, including a 132-97 victory a year ago.
The seniors on the men’s team will be honored on Friday night prior to the start
of the meet against SMU, while the seniors on the women’s squad will be
recognized before Saturday’s meet.
Houston Swimming and Diving Plays Host to Rice and LSU This Weekend
HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 24, 2008) The University of Houston swimming and diving team competes in Houston for the first time in three months this weekend when it plays host to LSU and Conference USA rival Rice in a two-day tri-meet at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.
The meet begins at 5 p.m., Friday with the 200-yard medley relay, 1,000-yardfreestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard freestyle, 3-meter diving, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard freestyle relay.
The meet wraps up at 11:30 a.m., Saturday with the 400-yard medley relay,500-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, 1-meter diving, 100-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard freestyle relay.
Fans should note that Saturday's starting time recently was changed fromearlier published schedules.
All UH swimming and diving meet are free and open to the public, which is invited to attend.
Although the Cougar divers competed at their own Houston Invitational on Nov. 15-17, this will be the first time that the swimmers and divers haveperformed together since Oct. 26-27 at the Phill Hansel Duals Weekend.
The Cougars (8-5) come into the meet after dropping a pair of dual meets last weekend in north Texas. UH looks to return to its winning ways afterfalling 133-110 at North Texas and 140-91 at No. 12 SMU.
This season, junior Sasha Schwendenwein has emerged as one of the team's steadiest performers. The Randburg, South Africa, native has posted theCougars' best times in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle events.
Fellow junior Andrea Pa'lmai tops all UH swimmers in the 1,000- and1,650-yard freestyle events as well as the 200-yard backstroke and the 100-and 200-yard breaststroke events.
Freshman Andrea Kells, competing in her first collegiate season, leads the Cougars in both the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events.
On the diving side, senior captain Ginni van Katwijk had led the Cougars onthe 1-meter springboard and platform and comes into this weekend¹s meet asthe defending C-USA Diver of the Week.
The Grootebroek, Netherlands, native won both diving events and helped leadthe Cougars to a sweep of the Top Three places at North Texas last weekend
Freshmen Courtney Forcucci and Lacey Truelove also have been consistentperformers in all three diving events this season and are scheduled to be inaction this weekend.
The meet begins at 5 p.m., Friday with the 200-yard medley relay, 1,000-yardfreestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard freestyle, 3-meter diving, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard freestyle relay.
The meet wraps up at 11:30 a.m., Saturday with the 400-yard medley relay,500-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, 1-meter diving, 100-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard freestyle relay.
Fans should note that Saturday's starting time recently was changed fromearlier published schedules.
All UH swimming and diving meet are free and open to the public, which is invited to attend.
Although the Cougar divers competed at their own Houston Invitational on Nov. 15-17, this will be the first time that the swimmers and divers haveperformed together since Oct. 26-27 at the Phill Hansel Duals Weekend.
The Cougars (8-5) come into the meet after dropping a pair of dual meets last weekend in north Texas. UH looks to return to its winning ways afterfalling 133-110 at North Texas and 140-91 at No. 12 SMU.
This season, junior Sasha Schwendenwein has emerged as one of the team's steadiest performers. The Randburg, South Africa, native has posted theCougars' best times in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle events.
Fellow junior Andrea Pa'lmai tops all UH swimmers in the 1,000- and1,650-yard freestyle events as well as the 200-yard backstroke and the 100-and 200-yard breaststroke events.
Freshman Andrea Kells, competing in her first collegiate season, leads the Cougars in both the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events.
On the diving side, senior captain Ginni van Katwijk had led the Cougars onthe 1-meter springboard and platform and comes into this weekend¹s meet asthe defending C-USA Diver of the Week.
The Grootebroek, Netherlands, native won both diving events and helped leadthe Cougars to a sweep of the Top Three places at North Texas last weekend
Freshmen Courtney Forcucci and Lacey Truelove also have been consistentperformers in all three diving events this season and are scheduled to be inaction this weekend.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Houston Diver van Katwijk Honored
IRVING, TEXAS (January 23, 2008) Houston’s Ginni van Katwijk is the Conference USA Diver of the Week. van Katwijk was the Cougars’ leading diver during a road swing through north Texas as she swept both events at North Texas and earned second- and fourth-place finishes at No. 12 SMU.
van Katwijk was the Cougars’ leading diver during a road swing through north Texas last weekend. The senior swept both events at North Texas and earned second- and fourth-place finishes at No. 12 SMU. van Katwijk won the 1-meter event with 262.73 points against UNT and finished first on the 3-meter board with 273.08 points. Her efforts helped lead the Cougars to a sweep of the Top Three places in both events.
At SMU she finished second on the 1-meter board with 269.69 points, less than one point from event winner and teammate Courtney Forcucci. van Katwik placed fourth on the 3-meter board with 267.07 points. This is van Katwijk’s second career C-USA weekly honor, her first in 2008.
van Katwijk was the Cougars’ leading diver during a road swing through north Texas last weekend. The senior swept both events at North Texas and earned second- and fourth-place finishes at No. 12 SMU. van Katwijk won the 1-meter event with 262.73 points against UNT and finished first on the 3-meter board with 273.08 points. Her efforts helped lead the Cougars to a sweep of the Top Three places in both events.
At SMU she finished second on the 1-meter board with 269.69 points, less than one point from event winner and teammate Courtney Forcucci. van Katwik placed fourth on the 3-meter board with 267.07 points. This is van Katwijk’s second career C-USA weekly honor, her first in 2008.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Houston Cougars Top Times Through January 20, 2008
By Robert H. Kelly
(Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications)
The University of Houston media relations department has released the top swimming times and diving scores through January 20, 2008 for the 2007-2008 season.
The Houston swimmers and divers are currently 8-5 in dual meet action. They will face LSU and Conference USA rival Rice on Friday and Saturday, January 25-26, 2008.
Action begins on Friday at 5:00 pm and on Saturday at 11:00 am.
You can view the top times by clicking here.
(Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications)
The University of Houston media relations department has released the top swimming times and diving scores through January 20, 2008 for the 2007-2008 season.
The Houston swimmers and divers are currently 8-5 in dual meet action. They will face LSU and Conference USA rival Rice on Friday and Saturday, January 25-26, 2008.
Action begins on Friday at 5:00 pm and on Saturday at 11:00 am.
You can view the top times by clicking here.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Houston Swimming and Diving Drops Dual Meet at No. 12 SMU
DALLAS, TEXAS (January 19, 2008) University of Houston freshman diver Courtney Forcucci scored 270.45 points on the 1-meter springboard to lead the Cougars during a 140-91 loss at No. 12 SMU on Saturday afternoon at Perkins Natatorium.
Forcucci grabbed top honors in a close race that saw less than five points separate the four competitors. Senior captain Ginni van Katwijk was a close second with 269.69 points.
The Cougars’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Sasha Schwendenwein, Brittany Copeland, Doreen Polotzek and Lindsey Graves capped the day with a first-place finish after posting a time of 1:40.38.
Junior Sasha Schwendenwein finished second in both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events, while freshman Andrea Kells captured second place in the 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard breaststroke.
Freshman Lindsey Graves (1,000-yard freestyle), junior Andrea Pa’lmai (400-yard individual medley) and freshman Lacey Truelove (3-meter diving) also recorded second-place finishes to lead the Cougars.
The Cougars return to action next weekend when they play host to LSU and C-USA rival Rice during a two-day meet at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Natatorium. That meet begins at 5 p.m., Friday and wraps up at 11 a.m., Saturday.
The complete and final results can be viewed here.
Forcucci grabbed top honors in a close race that saw less than five points separate the four competitors. Senior captain Ginni van Katwijk was a close second with 269.69 points.
The Cougars’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Sasha Schwendenwein, Brittany Copeland, Doreen Polotzek and Lindsey Graves capped the day with a first-place finish after posting a time of 1:40.38.
Junior Sasha Schwendenwein finished second in both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events, while freshman Andrea Kells captured second place in the 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard breaststroke.
Freshman Lindsey Graves (1,000-yard freestyle), junior Andrea Pa’lmai (400-yard individual medley) and freshman Lacey Truelove (3-meter diving) also recorded second-place finishes to lead the Cougars.
The Cougars return to action next weekend when they play host to LSU and C-USA rival Rice during a two-day meet at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Natatorium. That meet begins at 5 p.m., Friday and wraps up at 11 a.m., Saturday.
The complete and final results can be viewed here.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Houston Swimming Falls to North Texas
DENTON, TEXAS (January 18, 2008) Junior swimmers Andrea Pa'lmai and Sasha Schwendenwein and senior diving captain Ginni van Katwijk each won multiple events, but it would not be quite enough as North Texas claimed a 133-110 win over the University of Houston swimming and diving team Friday afternoon at the Pohl Recreation Center Natatorium.
Although the Cougars won the majority of the individual swimming events and swept the Top Three places in both diving events, the Mean Green began and capped the meet with relay wins to enjoy its first win against UH.
With the loss, the Cougars fell to 8-4 overall in dual meets this season. The Cougars also saw their 13-meet winning streak against the Mean Green come to an end.
Pa'lmai won the 1,00-yard freestyle with a time of 10:30.88 and added a similar finish in the 200-yard individual medley after posting a time of 2:08.22.
The Budapest, Hungary, native capped her day with a first-place showing in the 500-yard freestyle after recording a time of 5:06.00.
Schwendenwein finished first in the 200-yard freestyle with a clocking of 1:51.93. The Randburg, South Africa, native also won the 100-yard freestyle event with a time of 52.32.
van Katwijk led a Cougar sweep of the Top Three places in both diving events. The Grootebroek, Netherlands, native won the 1-meter event with 262.73 points and scored 273.08 points on the 3-meter springboard to grab top honors.
Freshman Andrea Kells grabbed top honors in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.64.
Freshman Courtney Forcucci finished second in the 1-meter event with fellow freshman Lacey Truelove placing second on the 3-meter board.
The Cougars wrap up their stay in north Texas when they face No. 12 SMU at 1 p.m., at Perkins Natatorium.
Click here for complete results.
Although the Cougars won the majority of the individual swimming events and swept the Top Three places in both diving events, the Mean Green began and capped the meet with relay wins to enjoy its first win against UH.
With the loss, the Cougars fell to 8-4 overall in dual meets this season. The Cougars also saw their 13-meet winning streak against the Mean Green come to an end.
Pa'lmai won the 1,00-yard freestyle with a time of 10:30.88 and added a similar finish in the 200-yard individual medley after posting a time of 2:08.22.
The Budapest, Hungary, native capped her day with a first-place showing in the 500-yard freestyle after recording a time of 5:06.00.
Schwendenwein finished first in the 200-yard freestyle with a clocking of 1:51.93. The Randburg, South Africa, native also won the 100-yard freestyle event with a time of 52.32.
van Katwijk led a Cougar sweep of the Top Three places in both diving events. The Grootebroek, Netherlands, native won the 1-meter event with 262.73 points and scored 273.08 points on the 3-meter springboard to grab top honors.
Freshman Andrea Kells grabbed top honors in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.64.
Freshman Courtney Forcucci finished second in the 1-meter event with fellow freshman Lacey Truelove placing second on the 3-meter board.
The Cougars wrap up their stay in north Texas when they face No. 12 SMU at 1 p.m., at Perkins Natatorium.
Click here for complete results.
Houston Swimming Sweeps at Hawai'i Relay Meet
HONOLULU, HAWAII (January 18, 2008) The University of Houston swimming team capped its winter training with an impressive sweep of Stony Brook, Puget Sound and St. Cloud State on Wednesday at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Center.
Competing in a variety of relay events only, the Cougars, who improved to 8-3 overall this season in dual meets, enjoyed 41-13 wins over both Stony Brook and Puget Sound and a 28-26 thriller over St. Cloud State.
The Cougars finished first or second in five of the six events in which they competed to take the wins.
The team of Andrea Pa'lmai, Doreen Polotzek, Andrea Kells and Sasha Schwendenwein started the meet on a high note, winning the 400-yard medley relay event with a time of 4:04.44, nearly six seconds faster than its closest competitor.
After second-place finishes in the 150-yard freestyle and the 150-yard butterfly relays, the team of Schwendenwein, Pa'lmai and freshman Paige Bissett claimed top honors in the 150-yard backstroke with a clocking of 1:23.91, nearly five seconds ahead of the closest competition.
The Cougars finished third in the 150-yard breaststroke relay before the team of Schwendenwein, Pa'lmai, Bissett and freshman Brittany Copeland finished first in the 500-yard freestyle relay with a time of 4:42.69, more than nine seconds ahead of their closest competitor.
Schwendwein was a member of three first-place teams, while Pa'lmai and Bissett were a part of two winning teams.
The Cougars were originally slated to compete on Dec. 31 in the relay meet and on Jan. 4 against an opponent to be determined but unforeseen circumstances forced the cancellation of those meets.
The Cougars return to action during this weekend with a trip to the Dallas area. The weekend starts at 4 p.m., January 18 when the Cougars face North Texas in Denton. From there, the team wraps up its stay in North Texas at 1 p.m., January 19, at No. 12 SMU.
Click here for complete results.
Competing in a variety of relay events only, the Cougars, who improved to 8-3 overall this season in dual meets, enjoyed 41-13 wins over both Stony Brook and Puget Sound and a 28-26 thriller over St. Cloud State.
The Cougars finished first or second in five of the six events in which they competed to take the wins.
The team of Andrea Pa'lmai, Doreen Polotzek, Andrea Kells and Sasha Schwendenwein started the meet on a high note, winning the 400-yard medley relay event with a time of 4:04.44, nearly six seconds faster than its closest competitor.
After second-place finishes in the 150-yard freestyle and the 150-yard butterfly relays, the team of Schwendenwein, Pa'lmai and freshman Paige Bissett claimed top honors in the 150-yard backstroke with a clocking of 1:23.91, nearly five seconds ahead of the closest competition.
The Cougars finished third in the 150-yard breaststroke relay before the team of Schwendenwein, Pa'lmai, Bissett and freshman Brittany Copeland finished first in the 500-yard freestyle relay with a time of 4:42.69, more than nine seconds ahead of their closest competitor.
Schwendwein was a member of three first-place teams, while Pa'lmai and Bissett were a part of two winning teams.
The Cougars were originally slated to compete on Dec. 31 in the relay meet and on Jan. 4 against an opponent to be determined but unforeseen circumstances forced the cancellation of those meets.
The Cougars return to action during this weekend with a trip to the Dallas area. The weekend starts at 4 p.m., January 18 when the Cougars face North Texas in Denton. From there, the team wraps up its stay in North Texas at 1 p.m., January 19, at No. 12 SMU.
Click here for complete results.
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