NCAA Div. I: Arizona Wildcats Sweep ASU Sun Devils

TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 10. ONE Sun Devil streak ended, another continued, but the outcomes for Arizona State's men's and women's swimming and diving teams were the same as both suffered losses to Arizona at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday.

ASU's 14th-ranked men (3-6 overall, 1-4 against Pac-10 opponents) entered the showdown with No. 7 Arizona (4-2), having won the last five meetings. But the Wildcats, led by a trio of Roland Schoeman victories, were too much for the Sun Devils this time and broke the streak by a 181-119 margin.

The No. 17 ASU (6-6, 1-5) women hadn't defeated Arizona in their last six attempts and didn't Saturday as the No. 2 Wildcats (6-1) claimed first-place in all but four events to hand ASU a 182-113 loss.

MEN'S MEET
The Sun Devil men got off to a strong start winning four of the first five events, beginning with the 400-yard medley relay in 3:19.87. Gavin Meadows continued the momentum in the 200y freestyle in 1:38.66, a season-best for Meadows and an NCAA 'B' qualifying time. Making it a one-two-three sweep behind him were teammates Anders Lyrbring (1:39.94) and Scott VonSchoff (1:40.69).

Then in the 100y backstroke Bo West swam his fastest time of the season (50.92) to top Arizona's Kris Souther (51.03). And in the 100y breaststroke, Otto Hinks touched the wall first in 56.65, ahead of the Wildcats' Greg Owen (57.12) and ASU teammate Brian Spetman (59.13).

From that point on, however, it was all Arizona. Schoeman (19.69) topped Simon MacDonald (20.84) in the 50y free, before turning around in the very next event and getting VonSchoff in the 100y free 44.04-44.73.
In the 100y butterfly, Schoeman completed his hat trick with a victory in 48.99.

Schoeman wasn't the only triple winner for the host Wildcats. Tyler Painter managed a distance triple, taking the 100 yard free (9:24.08), 500 free (4:24.74) and 400 IM (3:58.24).

The meet's final evcent, the 400 free relay, saw the two teams go stroke-for-stroke before Arizona's anchor, Schoeman, pulled away to give the home teqam the victory in a very fast 2:58.76. ASU ws right behind in 2:59.68.

WOMEN'S MEET
While the ASU men faded down the stretch, the Sun Devil women could never quite get it going against the nation's second-ranked team. In the 400 medley relay, ASU claimed only third in 3:51.90. In fact, third-place was the best ASU could muster in four of the first five events, the sole exception being Lauren Morelli's second-place 57.88 in the 100y back as Beth Botsford won in 56.31.

The Sun Devils did have their moments, including a one-two finish by Sarah Baham and Alicia Wheelock in the 200y fly. Baham's winning time of 2:02.38 was her fourth-fastest time in that event this season, while Wheelock clocked in at 2:04.27, to slip past the
Wildcats' Erin Vogt, who finished in 2:04.22.

In the 500y free, Townsend bested Arizona's Katie Zimbone (4:56.04) in 4:55.88. Behind some exhibition swimmers, Morelli and Riley Mants added first-place points in the 200y back (2:04.05) and 200y breast
(2:20.01), respectively.

Among those leading the way for the Wildcats was Sarah Tolar, who won back-to-back victories, first claiming the 1000y free (10:01.83) before taking the 200y free (1:49.06). She followed later with a win in the 400y individual medley (4:30.13).

Beth Botsford claimed the 100 back (56.31) and 100 fly (56.11) to record a double for the Lady Cats. The 1996 Olympian also recorded the fastest 200 back (2:00.68) but swam it as an exhibition event.

Amanda Beard, a 1996 and 200 Olympian, won the 100 breast (1:03.27) for the host team and finished first, swimming exhibition, in the 200 breast (2:15.18) and 400 IM (4;27.08).

This meet of in-state rivals wraps the regular season for both teams. Next up for the women will be the Pac-10 Championships, Feb. 22-24. The men's Pac-10 meet will be March 1-3.

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