University of Tennessee Athletics
NO. 22 LADY VOLS HEAD TO PURDUE FOR NCAA CHAMIONSHIPS
March 16, 2005 | Women's Swimming & Diving
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March 16, 2005
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The No. 22 Lady Vol swimming team is ready to compete in the NCAA Championships hosted by Purdue University at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center March 17-19. UT will have five swimmers challenge the field in 11 different events. Sophomore Tiffany Clay, junior Jacque Fessel, freshman Christine Magnuson, sophomore Megan Tomes and senior Julia Stowers will take aim at school records and All-America status while swimming against the nation's elite. Additionally, the Big Orange will hit the water for the 200y medley relay, 400y medley relay and 800y freestyle relay.
Three of the qualifiers (Fessel, Tomes and Stowers) are placed in the top 16 in one event and should propel UT to a strong showing. Historically under Head Coach Dan Colella, the squad has claimed nine top-25 finishes out of the last ten years, including four in the top 15.
Fessel is appearing in her third straight championships while Clay and Tomes both competed last season as freshmen. Don't expect Stowers or Magnuson to buckle from the pressure, as Stowers won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and the freshman performed admirably at the Southeastern Conference Championships.
Last year at the national meet, the Big Orange snared four All-America certificates en route to a 28th-place finish. Lauryn McCalley (Moultrie, Ga.) claimed sixth place in the three-meter springboard and 12th place on the one-meter. Additionally, Fessel finished 13th in the 100m backstroke and 16th in the 200m backstroke. Other UT participants included Clay (38th in 200m breaststroke), Taryn Ternent (63rd in 50m free) and Tomes (20th in 200m IM), (28th in 100m back). Additionally, the 200m relay squad (17th) and 400m medley relay (19th) represented the Orange and White.
The event commences on Thursday at 11 a.m. with preliminary action in the 200y freestyle relay, 500y freestyle, 200y IM, 50y freestyle, one-meter diving and the 400y medley relay.
