Indiana Swimming and Diving to Send Seven to World University Games

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, June 4. THE Indiana University swimming and diving program will send seven representatives to the 2009 World University Games, July 1-12 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Swimmers Kevin Swander, Sergiy Fesenko, Kate Zubkova and Eric Ress, along with divers Brittney Feldman and Amy Korthauer, will take part in the competition. Head swimming coach Ray Looze will serve as a staff assistant with USA Swimming.

Swander, who will represent the United States, completed his eligibility in 2006. He was a 13-time All-American for the Hoosiers, including a runner-up finish in the 100 breaststroke in 2006. Fesenko was a two-year letterwinner at IU, earning five All-America honors in his two seasons. He will represent his native Ukraine at the event.

Also representing the Ukraine is rising senior Zubkova. A nine-time All-American, Zubkova is the school and Big Ten record holder in the 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke. No stranger to international competition, Zubkova competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Ress is coming off a stellar freshman season for the Hoosiers where he placed second in the 100 backstroke at the Big Ten Championships, and 11th at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors. Ress holds dual citizenship in the United States and France, and will compete for France at the event.

"I am excited that we have so many swimmers and divers represented at the up-coming World University Games," Looze said. "International competition has always been important to our program in the summer and this certainly an event which leads to Olympic games participation and success."

Feldman and Korthauer will represent USA Diving at the Games, continuing a Hoosier tradition at the event. Christina Loukas competed at the Games in 2005 and 2007, earning a silver medal in the 3-meter competition in 2007. Feldman placed third in the 3-meter event at the 2009 NCAA Championships and is a four-time All-American. Korthauer earned her spot on the team after finishing sixth on the platform at the 2009 Speedo USA Diving Spring Nationals.

"I am excited that we have two IU divers, Brittney and Amy, attending the World University Games," said head diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber. "It is a high-level international competition that IU divers have been attending for many years. It is great experience for both women and will help them in their development. I know that it was a turning point for Christina Loukas when she earned the silver medal in 2007 in Bangkok. I am only disappointed that Christina and I won't also be able to attend due to a conflict with the World Championship. Brittney and Amy have worked extremely hard in the pool and classroom and I am excited that they will be representing the United States in this competition."

Looze was selected by USA Swimming to serve on the coaching staff at the Games. The U.S. coaching staff will include women's head coach Steve Bultman (College Station, Texas) and men's head coach Mark Bernardino (Charlottesville, Va.). Matt Kredich (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Gregg Wilson (Santa Barbara, Calif.) will serve as the women's assistant coaches, while Looze and Tim Murphy (Boston, Mass.) will be the men's assistant coaches.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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