NCAA Div. I Men: Auburn Dunks Arizona, Wisconsin

TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 2. THE No. 2-ranked Auburn men's swimming team opened the 2002-03 season with dual meet victories over No. 10 Arizona and No. 18 Wisconsin today at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.

"This was a good win over a top 10 team," Auburn Head Coach David Marsh said. "Justin Caron showed us something coming back from an injury and being back on track. Freshman George Bovell also is beginning to show his talent."

Caron competed in two events, winning the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:02.57, while also swimming in the 50 freestyle, clocking a 21.45. Bovell's debut for the Tigers also included a first-place finish,
winning the 200 IM with a time of 1:49.94, just .03 seconds away from an NCAA provisional time. The Trinidad and Tobago native then touched the wall in a time of 1:54.02 in the 200 backstroke.

The Tigers collected first-place finishes in four additional events for the afternoon. Senior James Galloway was the first to the wall in the 1000 free in a time of 9:36.44 while sophomore Clay Kirkland won the 100 freestyle in a time of 45.61. Senior BJ Jones won two events, the 200 freestyle (1:39.34) and the 500 freestyle (4:31.12).

Galloway also placed second in the 500 free in a time of 4:36.65 while sophomore Will Brant placed second behind Caron in the 200 breast (2:04.53). Junior Bryce Hunt and freshman Doug Van Wie placed second and third in the 200 backstroke with times of 1:48.12 and 1:52.36, respectively.

Other finishes of note include Junior Mark Gangloff's time of 1:51.00 in the 200 IM to place second and junior Jeremy Knowles' third-place (1:51.34) and sophomore Ryan Hinz' fourth-place (1:51.86) finishes in the 200 butterfly. Senior Matt Kidd clocked a 21.15 in the 50 freestyle and a 46.70 in the 100 freestyle.

The meet got started with the 400-medley relay. The Auburn quartet of Hunt, Gangloff, senior Andy Haidinyak and Kirkland clocked a time of 3:19.54, second to Wisconsin's time of 3:18.84.

The Tigers will return to the pool on Sunday, Nov. 3, as they stay in Arizona to face the Arizona State Sun Devils at noon.

Back in Auburn, the women's team finished up competition in the War Eagle Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

"We had some really good swims this afternoon," Co-Head Women's Coach Kim Brackin said. "Eileen Coparropa showed some great racing strategy and she definitely looks strong right now. The 200 IM race between Maggie Bowen and Kirsty Coventry was great to watch. The girls
swam some off events today, which was also good to see."

Coparropa touched the wall in 49.71 in the 100 freestyle, prompting the remarks from Brackin. The 200 IM race came down to .01 with Bowen clocking a 2:00.95 to Coventry's 2:00.96. Bowen also swam the 100 breaststroke, touching the wall first with a time of 1:05.11.

Other swims of interest included Laura Swander's 200 butterfly (2:07.11), which Demerae Christianson won (2:02.66), and Jeri Moss in the 100 backstroke (56.60).

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