Swim teams head to championships
By Kelly Morris
Managing Editor

For most of the swimming and diving season, the men’s and women’s teams were without a home pool to practice at for their meets.

But it didn’t stop them from having successful seasons.

Starting this Sunday, the men’s and women’s teams will compete at the three-day Conference USA Championship.

The women’s team (12-2) captured its best win-loss record in TCU history. Junior Erin Irons was a two-time C-USA swimmer of the week and sophomore Aimee Moreau was also named a C-USA swimmer of the week. Freshman diver Kelly Seely and junior diver Codi McLamb each qualified for the NCAA Zone qualifying meet.

Head coach Richard Sybesma said the women’s team, who has multiple swimmers and divers looking to qualify for the NCAA Championships, have high hopes for the rest of its season.

“We had a very successful season and it is the team’s goal to win the C-USA Conference championship meet this weekend,” he said. “It will be a three-way battle as Cincinnati and East Carolina will be very competitive.”

The C-USA Championships will mark the last meet for seniors Melissa Powell, Katie Schell, Andrea Stevens and Kate Swearingen.

“Our four seniors have been the key to this season’s success and will provide leadership at the C-USA championship,” Sybesma said.

The men’s team had an overall dual meet record of 8-5. Four of those meets (Air Force, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Southwest Missouri State) were decided by the final event of the meet, with the Frogs winning the Notre Dame and Southwest Missouri meets.

Sybesma said the men’s team hopes to repeat as C-USA Invitational Champions. He said a few of the men’s swimmers have an opportunity to qualify for the National Championships, which will be held in Austin in March.

Sophomore Craig Chapman is currently ranked 23rd in the nation in his main event at the 200 yard backstroke.

“Chapman has a great chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships,” Sybesma said. “I would consider him a 2004 Olympic hopeful.”

He said junior diver Stephen Gebren, freshman diver Kelly McCain and junior diver Chad Hummel have all qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving meet.

The conference invitational will also be the final meet for seniors Dana Kizer, Jeff Parkinson, Aaron Ewert, Kyle Nunez and Byron Coyle.

“Our seniors have done an outstanding job as leaders this season,” Sybesma said. “They will be a difficult group to replace next season.

Kelly Morris