general information:carolina swimming & diving

Nike: Supporting UNC Swimming & DivingThe University of North Carolina Department of Athletics and Nike

extended their agreement for eight more years beginning in July2002. The agreement provides each varsity team with shoes,apparel, equipment bags and other products. It also provides$100,000 annually for the Chancellor's Academic EnhancementFund for undergraduate teaching as well as $100,000 annually tothe athletic department to reward Olympic sport programs andcoaches for academic and athletic excellence.

Carolina Swimming & Diving Quick FactsLocation: Chapel Hill, N.C.Chartered: 1789, cornerstone laid 1793, opened 1795Enrollment: 26,878Chancellor: Dr. James MoeserDirector of Athletics: Dick BaddourSenior Women’s Administrator: Dr. Beth MillerNational Affiliation: NCAA Division IConference: Atlantic Coast ConferenceNickname: Tar HeelsMascot: Rameses the RamSchool Colors: Carolina Blue and WhiteAthletic Department Web Site: www.TarHeelBlue.com/Carolina Swimming & Diving Staff InformationHead Swimming Coach: Frank ComfortDual-Meet Records at North Carolina: Men—215-84-1 in 27 sea-sons as head coach; Women—242-49-1 in 27 seasons as headcoachOverall Coaching Records: Men—298-110-1 in 36 seasons ashead coach; Women—242-49-1 in 27 seasons as head coachCoach Comfort’s Office Telephone Number: (919) 966-1900Head Assistant Coach: Chris HansenCoach Hansen’s Office Telephone Number: (919) 966-5340Diving Coach: Kevin LawrenceAssistant Coaches: Randy Erlenbach, Catherine Frock Vogt,Randy JarmanVolunteer Assistant Coaches: Greg Johnson, Sean QuinnHome Pool: Maurice J. Koury Natatorium (Opened 1986)Seating Capacity: 2,0002004-05 Dual-Meet Records: Men—10-2, ACC 5-1; Women—9-3,ACC 4-22005 ACC Championships Finishes: Men—Fourth Place;Women—Third Place2005 NCAA Championships Finishes: Men—Tied for 32nd Place;Women—Did Not Score, No Placing.Athletic Training Staff: Head Trainer Marc Davis; AssistantTrainers Quinton Sawyer, Josh Beard and Becca FrazierSwimming Administrative Assistant: Sharon WagnerMrs. Wagner’s Office Telephone Phone: (919) 962-8110UNC Athletic Communications InformationSwimming and Diving Media Contact: Dave Lohse, AssociateAthletic Communications DirectorSwimming and Diving Student Assistant: Jeff McLerranLohse’s Email Address: [email protected]’s Office Telephone Number: (919) 962-7257Lohse’s Home Telephone Number: (919) 419-3488Office Fax Telephone Number: (919) 962-0612Athletic Communications Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2126,Chapel Hill, NC 27515Shipping Address: Athletic Communications Office, 300 SkipperBowles Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Table of ContentsContents, Quick Facts, Credits, Website Info, Nike Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Women’s Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Men’s Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Men’s Swimmer & Diver Biographies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Women’s Swimmer & Diver Biographies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Head Coach Frank Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Carolina Swimming & Diving Coaching & Support Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Carolina Tradition & History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Carolina’s National Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Patterson Medal Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Olympians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45Carolina’s ACC Top 50 Honorees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Men’s Year by Year Records & Finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49Women’s Year by Year Records & Finishes, Records Against Opponents .50All-Time Letter Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51UNC Team Award Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54All-America Honorees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57ACC Men’s Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61ACC Women’s Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Conference Award Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65UNC Men’s All-Time Depth Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67UNC Women’s All-Time Depth Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Men’s Record Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69Women’s Record Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Coaches Record & Long Course Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Koury Natatorium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76Department of Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78The University of North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79Student-Athlete Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82Educational Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

2005-06 North Carolina Swimming &Diving Media GuidePhotography by Jeffrey Camarati andPeyton Williams plus other photographerswhere noted. Front cover and inside backcover designed by Dana Gelin. Inside frontand back cover designed by Dave LohseThe 2005-06 media guide was edited byDave Lohse, Associate AthleticCommunications Director, and JeffMcLerran, Athletic CommunicationsAssistant. Printing services by Theo DavisPrinting Company, Inc., Zebulon, N.C., NickHonneycutt, customer representative.

www.TarHeelBlue.comMedia and fans can follow the Carolina swimming and diving

teams and the rest of the UNC athletic program from anywherein the world via the Internet on the official site of North Carolinaathletics. TarHeelBlue.com offers schedules, rosters, results,features and moreinformation for all28 of Carolina’svarsity sports.

Polk Place, South Building and Steele Hall

GENERAL INFORMATION: CAROLINA SWIMMING & DIVING

2005-06 CAROLINA SWIMMING & DIVING MEDIA GUIDE: PAGE 1

NAME YR. EVENTS HT. HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL)Mandi Arak Fr, Diving 5-5 Scottsdale, Ariz. (Desert Mountain)Aubrette Biegel Fr. Free, IM 5-5 Schererville, Ind. (Lake Central)*Lizzy Bruce Sr. Breast, IM 5-6 Wichita, Kan. (Trinity Academy)Emily Carroll Sr. Fly, Free 5-8 Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. (Waynesboro)Erin Cutrell Jr. Free 5-7 Ligonier, Pa. (Greensburg Central)Kimmy Davis Fr. Free, Fly 5-5 Cary, N.C. (Athens Drive)Sam Deal So. Breast 5-6 Boone, N.C. (Watauga)Meagan Eickman Jr. Back, Free 5-9 Spartanburg, S.C. (Spartanburg Day)Laura Filip Jr. Diving 5-5 Durham, N.C. (School of the Arts)Jennifer Frazier Fr. Breast 5-5 Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. (Indian Harbour)Mary Margaret Gamblin Jr. Back 5-10 Raleigh, N.C. (Bolles School, Jacksonville, Fla.)Karen Gately So. Free, Back 5-7 Sudbury, Mass. (Lincoln Sudbury)Nikki Griswell Fr. Fly, IM 5-4 Charlotte, N.C. (North Mecklenburg)Lauren Karatanevski Jr. Diving 5-7 Toronto, Ontario (Lawrence Park)Jennifer Keith So. Breast 5-6 Matthews, N.C. (Providence)Bridget Kimmel Jr. Fly, Back 5-4 Towson, Md. (Notre Dame Prep)Kate Lewis Sr. Diving 5-4 Doylestown, Pa. (Central Bucks East)Lindsey Marck So. Fly, IM 5-6 Newtown, Pa. (Pennsbury)Erika Matheis So. Diving 5-0 Webster, N.Y. (Schroeder)Taylor McFarlane So. Free, Back 5-11 Cape Elizabeth, Maine (Cape Elizabeth)Lindsay McIlvain Fr. IM, Free, Fly 5-5 Brentwood, Tenn. (Brentwood)Hannah Mein Fr. Fly, IM 5-4 Doylestown, Pa. (Germantown Academy)Kelsey Morrissy So. Free 5-6 Horsham, Pa. (Hatboro Horsham)Marissa Nilon Jr. Breast 5-8 Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville)Nicole O’Donnell Fr. Free 5-7 Cornelius, N.C. (North Mecklenburg)Katy Pritchett Fr. Diving 5-5 Lubbock, Texas (Coronado)Emily Reardon Jr. Fly, Back 5-3 Marietta, Ga. (Pope)*Gia Santoro Sr. Diving 5-9 Stratford, Conn. (Bunnell)Sarah Scott Fr. Free, Fly 5-6 Pittsboro, N.C. (Durham Academy)Amanda Smith Sr. Free, IM 5-7 Evans City, Pa. (Seneca Valley)*Becky Smock Jr. Fly, IM, Free 5-9 Richmond, Va. (Mills E. Godwin)Whitney Sprague Fr. Free 5-7 Bronxville, N.Y. (Bronxville)Kelly Woodruff So. IM, Breast, Free 5-9 Shoreline, Wash. (Shorewood)*2005-06 Tri-CaptainHead Coach: Frank ComfortHead Assistant Coach: Chris HansenDiving Coach: Kevin LawrenceAssistant Coach: Catherine Vogt FrockAssistant Coach: Randy ErlenbachAssistant Coach: Randy JarmanVolunteer Assistant Coach: Greg JohnsonVolunteer Assistant Coach: Sean QuinnHead Trainer: Marc DavisAssistant Trainers: Quinton Sawyer, Josh Beard, Becca FrazierStrength Coach: Steve GisselmanAthletic Communications Director: Dave LohseAdministrative Assistant: Sharon WagnerAcademic Advisor: Wayne WaldenManager: Kirkland Lynch

Pronunciation GuideName PronunciationMandy Arak AIR-ackAubrette Biegel AW-bret BEE-guhlErin Cuttrell KUT-truhlLauren Karatanevski CARE-uh-tuh-NEFF-skeErika Matheis muh-THEE-usLindsay McIlvain MACK-uhl-vainMarissa Nilon same as nylonHannah Mein MAIN

Senior Emily Carroll

CAROLINA SWIMMING & DIVING: 2005-06 WOMEN’S ALPHABETICAL ROSTER

PAGE 2: 2005-06 CAROLINA SWIMMING & DIVING MEDIA GUIDE

NAME YR. EVENTS HT. HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL)*Jon Albrecht Sr. Free, Back 6-2 Akron, Ohio (Firestone)Chad Ames Sr. Fly, IM, Free 6-3 Crawfordsville, Ind. (Crawfordsville)Wade Baccich Jr. Fly, Back 6-0 Charlotte, N.C. (South Mecklenburg)Robbie Bittner Jr. IM 5-11 Beaufort. N.C. (West Carteret)Hank Browning Fr. Free 6-1 Cincinnati, Ohio (Turpin)Aaron Burns Jr. Breast 6-3 Sinking Spring, Pa. (Wilson)Tristan Davidson Jr. IM, Fly 5-6 Mount Pleasant, S.C. (Wando)Jon Fox Jr. Diving 5-6 Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)Ryan Funderburk So. Diving 6-1 Summerfield, N.C. (Northwest Guilford)*Josh Glasco Sr. Fly 6-0 Richmond, Va. (Douglas Freeman)Erich Gloege Sr. Diving 5-11 Charlotte, N.C. (South Mecklenburg)Ben Grafchik Jr. IM, Back 6-2 Prospect, Ky. (Kentucky Country Day)Alex Kenley Fr. Diving 5-10 Sarasota, Fla. (Pine View)Jared Kleber Jr. Fly, Free 6-0 Charlotte, N.C. (Vance)Casey Kott Jr. Free, Back 6-2 Morrisville, N.C. (Millbrook)Keith Laabs So. Back 6-5 Memphis, Tenn. (White Station)Ryan Matuszak Sr. Diving 5-11 Rochester Hills, Mich. (Rochester)Stephen Miltz So. Free 6-0 Knightdale, N.C. (Enloe)Brad Mitchell Fr. Breast, IM 6-0 Somers, N.Y. (Somers)Mark Mohr So. Free 5-10 Mequon, Wis. (Homestead)Stewart Norman Jr. Free, Fly 5-10 Cary, N.C. (Woodberry Forest, Va.)Philip Owen So. Free 6-5 Scottsdale, Ariz. (Saguaro)John Sands So. Free 5-10 Columbus, Ohio (Granville)Yi-khy Saw Fr. IM, Fly, Free 5-9 Penang, Malaysia (Bolles School, Jacksonville, Fla.)Adam Schauer So. Free 6-3 Raleigh, N.C. (Sanderson)Brandon Suddreth So. Free 6-4 Troutman, N.C. (South Iredell)Zach Swartz So. Free 6-1 Harleysville, Pa. (Souderton Area)Robby Swendiman So. Free 6-5 Kensington, Md. (Georgetown Preparatory)Jon Van Assen Sr. Fly, Back, Free 6-1 Matawan, N.J. (Bishop George Ahr)Josh Weavil Sr. Diving 5-10 High Point, N.C. (Southwest Guilford)Paul Weir So. Free 6-2 Mamaroneck, N.Y. (Scarsdale)*Patrick Woodruff Sr. Free, Breast 6-4 Shoreline, Wash. (Shorewood)*2005-06 Tri-CaptainHead Coach: Frank ComfortHead Assistant Coach: Chris HansenDiving Coach: Kevin LawrenceAssistant Coach: Catherine Vogt FrockAssistant Coach: Randy ErlenbachAssistant Coach: Randy JarmanVolunteer Assistant Coach: Greg JohnsonVolunteer Assistant Coach: Sean QuinnHead Trainer: Marc DavisAssistant Trainers: Quinton Sawyer, Josh Beard, Becca FrazierStrength Coach: Steve GisselmanAthletic Communications Director: Dave LohseAdministrative Assistant: Sharon WagnerAcademic Advisor: Wayne WaldenManager: Kirkland Lynch

Pronunciation GuideName PronunciationWade Baccich BASS-ichErich Gloege GLO-gheeBen Grafchik GRAF-chikJared Kleber KLEE-berKeith Laabs sounds like labsMark Mohr sounds like moreRyan Matuszak muh-TOO-zakYi-Ky Saw YEE-KIE SAWAdam Schauer sounds like shower Senior Chad Ames

2005-06 MEN’S ALPHABETICAL ROSTER: CAROLINA SWIMMING & DIVING


DATES EVENTS SITES TIMESFri., October 7 East Carolina Diving Invitational Greenville, N.C. 12:00 p.m.Wed., October 12 at Georgia Athens, Ga. 2:00 p.m.Fri., October 28 Tar Heel Invitational Chapel Hill, N.C. 5:00 p.m.Sat., October 29 vs. Richmond (Women) Chapel Hill, N.C. 11:00 a.m.Fri., November 4 at Minnesota with North Dakota Minneapolis, Minn. 6:00 p.m.& Sat., November 5 11:00 a.m.Tues., November 8 vs. Duke Chapel Hill, N.C. 5:00 p.m.Thurs., November 17 through Nike Cup Chapel Hill, N.C. Trials @ 10:00 a.m.Sat., November 19 Clemson, East Carolina, Florida International, Finals @ 6:00 p.m.

Kentucky, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia TechWed., November 30 vs. NC State (Women) Chapel Hill, N.C. 7:00 p.m.Wed., January 4 at UNLV with California & Wyoming Las Vegas, Nev. 2:00 p.m.Sat., January 14 vs. Clemson & Johns Hopkins Chapel Hill, N.C. 10:00 a.m.Sat., January 21 vs. Virginia Chapel Hill, N.C. Men @ 1:00 p.m.

Women @ 4:00 p.m.Sat., January 28 at Maryland College Park, Md. 11:00 a.m.Fri., February 3 vs. NC State (Men) Chapel Hill, N.C. 7:00 p.m.Wed., February 14 through Women’s ACC Championships College Park, Md. Trials @ 11:00 a.m.Sat., February 17 (University of Maryland, host) Finals @ 7:00 p.m.Wed., February 22 through Men’s ACC Championships College Park, Md. Trials @ 11:00 a.m.Sat., February 25 (University of Maryland, host) Finals @ 7:00 p.m.Thurs., March 2 Tar Heel Invitational Last Chance Meet Chapel Hill, N.C. 3:00 p.m.Thurs., March 16 through Women’s NCAA Championships Athens, Ga. Trials @ 11:00 a.m.Sat., March 18 (University of Georgia, host) Finals @ 7:00 p.m.Thurs., March 23 through Men’s NCAA Championships Atlanta, Ga. Trials @ 11:00 a.m.Sat., March 25 (Georgia Tech, host) Finals @ 7:00 p.m.

CAROLINA SWIMMING & DIVING: 2005-06 SCHEDULE


2004-05 Men’s Team Results & ScheduleDual-Meet Records: 10-2 Overall, 5-1 ACC, Ranked #20 inCSCAA Poll10/13 #13 Georgia W 174-12610/31 Tar Heel Invitational No Team Scores11/5-6 #7 Minnesota L 127-239

Virginia Tech W 278.5-91.511/9 Duke W 213-8411/18-20 Nike Cup 1st of 6 teams1/12 Brown W 158-124

Bucknell W 167-1241/15 at Clemson W 172-1281/19 Johns Hopkins W 181-1081/22 at #10 Virginia L 71-1721/26 East Carolina W 145-901/29 Maryland W 207-932/4 at NC State W 154-872/23-26 at ACC Championships 4th of 10 teams3/24-26 at NCAA Championships Tied for 32nd Place

2004-05 Women’s Team Results & ScheduleDual-Meet Records: Overall 9-3, ACC 4-2, Ranked #16 inCSCAA Poll10/13 #2 Georgia L 125-17510/29 Tar Heel Invitational No Team Scores11/5-6 Richmond W 236-124

Virginia Tech W 242-12411/9 at Duke W 199-9411/18-20 Nike Cup 2nd of 8 teams12/1 at NC State W 203-971/12 Brown W 151-145

Bucknell W 180-1161/15 at Clemson W 218-821/19 Johns Hopkins W 206-731/22 at #15 Virginia L 119-1791/26 East Carolina W 139.5-95.51/29 #13 Maryland L 125-1752/16-19 at ACC Championships 3rd of 10 teams3/17-19 at NCAA Championships Did Not Score

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO SMITH CENTER/KOURY NATATORIUMFrom Virginia and Points North:Take I-85 South to Durham, NC. Exit left at US 15-501 in Durham and follow 15-501 approxi-mately 9 miles to Chapel Hill. Once in Chapel Hill, maintain US 15-501 Bypass (FordhamBoulevard). At around the 7th stoplight, turn right onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center isone-half mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.From Points West:Take I-85 North toward Durham. Exit just past Burlington onto NC 54 East (Exit #148, ChapelHill Exit). Follow NC 54 for approximately 20 miles to Carrboro. Pass Carrboro Plaza on theright and stay on NC 54 for about 4 miles to the next stoplight, Manning Drive. Turn left onManning Drive. The Smith Center is one-half mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.From Points East:Take I-40 West toward Chapel Hill. Exit at NC 54 West (Exit #273 A) and follow for approxi-mately 4 miles. Once in Chapel Hill, continue to follow signs for NC 54 West, which means youwill have to exit right under first overpass. At the top of the exit turn right at light. Follow NC 54West/15-501South until the 2nd stoplight. Turn right onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center isone-half mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.From Points South:Take US 15-50 North toward Chapel Hill. Exit right onto US 15-501 Bypass in Chapel Hill. Turnleft at first stoplight onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center is one-half mile on the left onSkipper Bowles Drive.

Coming off one of the best offseasontraining programs over the last quartercentury, the University of North Carolinamen’s and women’s swimming and divingteams open their 2005-06 campaigns inOctober with the hope of improving theirdual meet records from a year ago andmoving higher in the Atlantic CoastConference standings at the champi-onship meets in February.

Head coach Frank Comfort is begin-ning his 29th season as the Tar Heel headmentor with a record that includes moredual-meet wins that any other active colle-giate swimming coach. The Tar Heelsreturn veteran teams on both sides of theaisle as 28 lettermen from the 2004-05team are back for the men’s squad and 21individuals who merited letters on the2004-05 women’s team are listed on thisyear’s roster.

As the season kicks off October 12against the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens,Ga., Comfort is particularly enthusedabout the leadership ability he witnesseson both units. Last spring, Comfort tappedsix outstanding individuals to serve ascaptains of their respective teams. Themen will be led in 2005-06 by seniorfreestyler Jon Albrecht of Akron, Ohio,senior butterflier Josh Glasco ofRichmond, Va. and senior breaststrokerPatrick Woodruff of Shoreline, Wash. Thewomen are spearheaded by senior breast-stroker Lizzy Bruce of Wichita, Kan., sen-ior diver Gia Santoro of Stratford, Conn.and junior butterflier Becky Smock ofRichmond, Va.

As mentioned earlier, the Tar Heelsreworked their offseason training program

for the spring of 2005 and summer of 2005and Comfort believes the commitment haspaid handsome dividends.

“We’re coming off the best summer oftotal team training that I can remember —perhaps ever in my career at NorthCarolina — and we have great expecta-

tions to be in contention to win the AtlanticCoast Conference championships.Looking at our roster, the great things wecould accomplish this year could comewithout having any true superstars on theteam,” says Comfort. “We will succeedthis year through a combination of balanceand depth.”

A year ago, the North Carolina menfinished with a dual-meet record of 10-2and an ACC mark of 5-1. Both of thoserecords were the best for a North Carolinamen’s team since the 1998-99 campaign.The Tar Heels finished fourth at the ACCChampionships, copped a tie for 32ndplace at the NCAA Championships andwas ranked No. 20 in the final CollegeSwimming Coaches Association ofAmerica dual-meet poll.

The women were 9-3 overall in dualmeets in 2004-05 and 4-2 in ACC compe-tition. Carolina placed third at the ACCChampionships and was ranked No. 16 inthe final CSCAA dual-meet poll.

Comfort also enters the coming sea-son with tremendous excitement aboutfacility improvements at the Maurice J.Koury Natatorium and the expansion ofthe Tar Heels’ full-time coaching staff.

“The addition of another full-timecoach, Catherine Frock Vogt, shows thecommitment the athletic department has tothe swimming and diving program, its con-sistency and its great history,” explains

Comfort, who is just two dual-meet winsshy of attaining 300 in his men’s coachingcareer at Johns Hopkins and Carolina.He also has 242 dual-meet wins as the TarHeels’ women’s coach.

“Catherine Vogt brings with her amaz-ing credentials at the club level and I can-not state how much I think she will help ourprogram,” Comfort continues.

As far as facilities, the UNC AthleticDepartment made some significantimprovements to a facility that opened in1986 and still ranks as one of the best inthe nation.

“We’re thrilled with the recentimprovements to Koury Natatorium,” saysComfort. “Amongst the projects now com-pleted are remodeling of the coachingoffice area, remodeling of both varsitylocker rooms, a new state of the art filtra-tion system and new starting blocks whichinterface with our timing system andscoreboard at a higher level of technologythan what we’ve seen in the past.”

In Depth With the WomenComfort sees enormous potential for

the women’s squad which has added 12freshmen and a transfer to the fold to goalong with the 21 returnees.

“The infusion of one our largest, deep-est and most talented freshman classes inrecent years has provided a tremendousboost to a fine group of returning swim-mers and divers,” states Comfort.

Despite his enthusiasm for his new-comers, Comfort still knows the core of thewomen’s squad will be a group of top-notch returnees.

“The potential we have for successwill center around our two senior tri-cap-tains, ACC breaststroke champion LizzyBruce and ACC diving finalist Gia Santoro,senior Amanda Smith, who is one of ourmore versatile swimmers, our junior tri-captain Becky Smock, who was theMaccabiah Games champion in the 200-meter butterfly this past summer, and a trioof talented sophomore performers —NCAA qualifiers Lindsey Marck and KellyWoodruff and our top returning sprinter,Kelsey Morrissy.

Bruce, Santoro and Smith (EvansCity, Pa.) head up a senior class whichalso includes butterflier Emily Carroll (BlueRidge Summit, Pa.), backstroker MaryMargaret Gamblin (Raleigh, N.C.) anddiver Kate Lewis (Doylestown, Pa.).

As a team captain Smock heads up adeep junior class of swimmers and diverswhich includes freestyler Erin Cutrell(Ligonier, Pa.), backstroker MeaganEickman (Spartanburg, S.C.), diver LauraFilip (Durham, N.C.), diver LaurenKaratanevski (Toronto, Ontario), backstro-

2005-06 SEASON PREVIEW: CAROLINA SWIMMING & DIVING


Senior Jon Van Assen

Senior Mary Margaret Gamblin

ker Bridget Kimmel (Towson, Md.), breast-stroker Marissa Nilon (Kennett Square,Pa.) and butterflier Emily Reardon(Marietta, Ga.).

The three top returnees in the sopho-more class won All-ACC honors in 2005.They include Marck, a butterflier fromNewtown, Pa., Morrissy, a freestyler fromHorsham, Pa., and Woodruff, an individualmedleyist from Shoreline, Wash. They arejoined in the sophomore class by breast-stroker Samantha Deal (Boone, N.C.),freestyler Karen Gately (Sudbury, Mass.),diver Erika Matheis (Webster, N.Y.) andtransfer freestyler Taylor McFarlane (CapeElizabeth, Maine) from the University ofMiami. She will not be eligible until nextseason, however.

The Tar Heels’ deep freshman classincludes diver Mandy Arak (Scottsdale,Ariz.) freestyler Aubrette Biegel(Schererville, Ind.), freestyler Kim Davis(Cary, N.C.), breaststroker Jennifer Frazier(Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.), butterflierNikki Griswell (Charlotte, N.C.), freestylerLindsay McIlvain (Brentwood, Tenn.), but-terflier Hannah Mein (Doylestown, Pa.),freestyler Nicole O’Donnell (Cornelius,N.C.), diver Katy Pritchett (Lubbock,Texas), freestyler Sarah Proctor(Charlotte, N.C.), freestyler Sarah Scott(Pittsboro, N.C.) and freestyler WhitneySprague (Bronxville, N.C.).

“Our team strength centers around anoutstanding group of divers, tremendousleadership provided by our juniors andseniors, the best depth we’ve had in sev-

eral years and a great team atmosphere,”adds Comfort in summary.

In Depth With the MenThe Tar Heels are even a more expe-

rienced team on the men’s side vis-a-visthe women as 28 letter winners return tothe squad.

“The addition and potential represent-ed by three incoming swimmers along withan experienced group of returnees leadsto great optimism for the coming year,”says Comfort. “Josh Glasco returns for hissenior year after being an All-America twoyears in a row at the NCAAChampionships. He is also the top return-ing ACC level performer as well. His lead-ership skills combined with those of his fel-low team captains, Jon Albrecht andPatrick Woodruff, portend a massivelyimproved men’s swimming and divingteam at Carolina.”

The Tar Heels’ No. 1 goal may be put-ting together a deeper squad to swim atthe ACC Championships in February. Inthis regard, Comfort thinks the freshmen,the offseason training program and thereturn from injury problems of a couple ofindividuals will be of maximum impor-tance.

“The strengths of this team willinclude a very deep diving corps and greatteam balance in every event. The greatoptimism centers around the fact the teamas a whole did a much better job trainingthis past summer,” Comfort says. “Theemergence of Casey Kott (Morrisville,N.C.) as a potential superb college per-former and the addition of the three fresh-men – Harrison Browning (Cincinnati,Ohio), Bradley Mitchell (Somers, N.Y.) andYi-Khy Saw (Penang, Malaysia) – whohave shown me a lot in practice the firstmonth of the season, will also be key fac-tors in our ability to be successful. Those

three freshman swimmers will be impactperformers for us at the conference level.”

Comfort sees a need for more depthin the sprint corps, an area so crucial tosuccess at the championships level, andthe return of several consistent seniors asother possibilities for improved perform-ances in 2005-06.

“John Sands (Columbus, Ohio) is nowrecovering from a season-long ankle injuryand surgery in 2004-05 and he couldimpact this team in a positive manner asmuch as anyone we have,” Comfortsexplains. “Chad Ames (Crawforsville, Ind.)returns for his senior year and he has beenone of the most versatile and consistentlygood swimmers for us in recent history.We also saw the emergence of Jon VanAssen (Matawan, N.J.) as a more produc-tive swimmer in his junior year.”

Comfort is also enthused about thejob diving coach Kevin Lawrence has donein improving the diving corps at Carolina.

“Ryan Matuszak (Rochester Hills,Mich.), Jon Fox (Neenah, Wis.) and RyanFunderburk (Summerfield, N.C.) all returnto give us a trustworthy and experienceddiving corps. Funderburk is one of themost rapidly improving divers on thenational level,” Comfort says.

The senior class is a deep one for theTar Heels this season. It includesAlbrecht, Ames, Glasco, diver ErichGloege (Charlotte, N.C.), Matuszak, VanAssen and diver Josh Weavil (High Point,N.C.).

Carolina’s junior class features nineswimmers and divers. The class includesbackstroker Wade Baccich (Charlotte,N.C.), individual medleyist Robbie Bittner(Beaufort, N.C.), breaststroker AaronBurns (Sinking Spring, Pa.), individualmedleyist Tristan Davidson (MountPleasant, S.C.), Fox, backstroker BenGrafchik (Prospect, Ky.), butterflier JaredKleber (Charlotte, N.C.), Kott andfreestyler Stewart Norman (Cary, N.C.).

Comfort believes this could be abreakthrough year for several members ofthe sophomore class. The class is 11-mendeep and includes Funderburk, backstro-ker Keith Laabs (Memphis, Tenn.),freestyler Stephen Miltz (Raleigh, N.C.),freestyler Mark Mohr (Mequon, Wis.),freestyler Philip Owen (Scottsdale, Ariz.),Sands, freestyler Adam Schauer (Raleigh,N.C.), freestyler Brandon Suddreth(Troutman, N.C.), freestyler Zach Swartz(Harleysville, Pa.), freestyler RobSwendiman (Kensington, Md.) andfreestyler Paul Weir (Mamaroneck, N.Y.).

The four member freshman classincludes the three aforementioned swim-mers as well as diver Alex Kenley(Sarasota, Fla.).

CAROLINA SWIMMING & DIVING: 2005-06 SEASON PREVIEW


Senior Ryan Matuszak

Senior Amanda Smith

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