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Alabama Swimming and Diving Wins Dual Meets Against LSU

Nov 3, 2001

The Alabama swimming and diving teams went down to the wire with the LSU Tigers here tonight at the Don Gambril Olympic Pool and came away with its first victories against the Tigers since 1996.

Both the men and women's meets came down to the last relay. Alabama's men won 156-142 while the women downed the Tigers 156-142. The Crimson Tide went to 1-0 on the season while LSU's men fell to 2-2 and the Tiger women posted their first loss of the season, going to 5-1. It marked the first time that either the men or the women have beaten LSU since the 1996 season.

"I'm really pleased with the way we raced tonight," Alabama head coach Don Wagner said. "We knew coming in that LSU was going to swim us tough. They've got a lot of depth, so we knew that we'd have a fight on our hands."

Alabama's women started the meet with a decisive win in the 400 medley relay. Sophomores Michelle King, Anne Poleska, Catalina Casura and Ann Ross outdistanced LSU's top four by two seconds.

"I was a bit surprised by the women's 400 medley relay," Wagner said. "We didn't overload it all the way, so for us to come out top in that one was a big boost."

Alabama took first, second and third in the 100 breaststroke with senior Marcy Warriner taking top honors, followed by Poleska and senior Belinda Green.

Warriner came back to win the 50 freestyle followed by sophomore Lisa Andersson in second. Sophomore Lane Bassham and junior Katherine Bortenlanger also packed a one-two punch. Bassham won the one-meter diving event with Bortenlanger taking second. Bassham also won the three-meter board.

Poleska and sophomore Flavia Sugimori took first and second respectively in the 200 breaststroke. Poleska came back to win the 200 IM.

The Tide women finished off the evening with a two-second victory in the 400 freestyle relay. Freshman Irini Kosta combined with Warriner, Ross and Andersson to procure the overall win for the Tide.

"It was a great day for our women's team," Wagner said. "We've struggled to find a sense of self. I think they found that tonight. They're a tough group, I think they surprised themselves."

Freshman Franck Southon touched out LSU's Jaynes Myles by three tenths of a second in the 1000 freestyle to give Alabama it's first win of the night. Southon came back later in the meet to post a win in the 200 backstroke.

Alabama came back with a one-two punch in the 200 freestyle when sophomores James Willcox and Michael Piggasou took first and second respectively. Willcox also won the 500 freestyle.

Freshman sensation Stefan Gherghel had a big night, winning the 200 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

With the meet still in the balance, sophomores Ben Worby and Jordie Proffitt combined with Southon to sweep the top three spots in the meets last individual event, the 200 IM.

Pigasou, Willcox, sophomore Brendan Ashby and Gherghel combined to win the 400 freestyle relay by nearly two second and put the meet away for the Crimson Tide.

"A lot of guys who were non-factors last year have really stepped up and made their presence felt this year," Wagner said. "Combined with our rookies, we're a much improved squad - light years ahead of where we were last year."

Alabama heads down to the Plains for its next dual meet, facing Auburn November 16.

Women's Team Scores
1 University of Alabama 157
2