University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Stand Ninth After Day 1 at NCAA Championships
March 28, 2002 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 28, 2002
Tennessee ended the first day of competition at the 2002 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships at Athens, Ga., in ninth place.
The fifth-ranked Vols scored 57 points with a third-place finish from diver Phillip Jones, a seventh-place finish by the 200 freestyle relay, a 10th-place finish from the 400 medley relay squad and a 12th-place finish by Renato Gueraldi.
Texas leads after the first day with 163 points, followed by Stanford (143), Arizona (104), Florida (91) and Auburn (83.5).
Jones stole the show with the Vols highest finish of the day, third place in one-meter diving. Jones fought off a strong field for his first All-America honor.
In continuation of the strong 200 freestyle relay tradition, the Vol sprinters gave a strong showing with McDonnell, Hoggatt, Parrish and Gueraldi earning All-America honors as they finished seventh in a time of 1:18.91. Stanford won the event with an NCAA, U.S. Open and American Record time of 1:16.49. The 400 medley team of McDonnell, Simpson, Hoggatt and Gueraldi also scored points for the Vols with a 10th place finish in a time of 3:13.66.
Adding the final points for Tennessee, Gueraldi placed 12th in the 50 freestyle.
Tennessee finished third in last year's NCAA Championship, the Vols best finish under head coach John Trembley.
The NCAA Championships continue at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga. through Saturday.
