Feb. 15, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown University swimming and diving team qualified 32 student-athletes for the BIG EAST Championships at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow, N.Y., beginning on February 20. The Hoyas' 32 qualifiers are eight more than the 24 sent to last year's BIG EAST Championships.

A year ago, the Hoyas broke 13 school records at the BIG EAST Championships. Sophomore Laura Stark (Martinsville, N.J./Mount St. Mary) and junior Goran Bistric (Saugus, Calif./William S. Hart) broke three apiece, while sophomore Laura Alito (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) broke two. Each of those record-setters will have opportunities improve on last year's times.

While each qualifier is only able to swim in three individual heats and four relays, several swimmers qualified in more than three events. Stark led the team, qualifying in eight events. Freshman Mallory Kiplinger (Darien, Conn./Darien) qualified in six, while senior Caitlin Colling (Monson, Mass./Monson) and Brian Koh (Rowland Heights, Calif./Damien) each posted qualifying times in five events. GU had nine other swimmers qualify in four events.

Colling, Tori Maffey (Mountainside, N.J./Mount St. Mary) and Claire Nugent (Westport, Conn./Hopkins School) are the lone seniors on the squad to post BIG EAST Championship qualifying times. Colling will race in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, Maffey will represent the Hoyas in the 100 and 200 backstroke and Nugent will swim the 100 and 200 butterfly.

This year's freshman class has contributed heavily to the success of the squad, with 12 newcomers qualifying, led by Kiplinger. In addition Hamilton Jordan (Frisco, Texas/Jesuit College Prep), Ali Christie (Edison, N.J./Mount St. Mary), Megan Harvey (Norristown, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame) and Katherine Lee (New York, N.Y./Spence) have posted impressive times throughout the season.

Men's Swimming and Diving BIG EAST Qualifiers
Name Class Events
David Ballinger Jr. 200 IM, 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Fly
Goran Bistric Jr. 50 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Back
Tom Crecelius Fr. 200 Free, 1650 Free
John Deppe So. 200 Fly
Wes Going So. 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Back
Thomas Graham Fr. 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Alex Hanson Fr. 100 Breast
Bryce Hillman Fr. 100 Free
Hamilton Jordan Fr. 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Fly
Brian Koh So. 500 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Free, 200 Breast
James LiVolsi So. 500 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back
Dan Robinson Jr. 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Back, 200 Back
Kevin Taylor Fr. 100 Breast
Keenan Timko Fr. 100 Fly, 100 Breast, 200 Fly
Ray Zomerfeld Fr. 200 Breast

Women's Swimming and Diving BIG EAST Qualifiers
Name Class Events
Laura Alito So. 50 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Fly
Ali Christie Fr. 500 Free, 400 IM, 1650 Free, 200 Fly
Caitlin Colling Sr. 200 IM, 50 Free, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Free
Emma Denvir So. 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Christina DiNapoli Jr. 100 Breast
Megan Harvey Fr. 500 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 200 Fly
Caitlin Karniski Fr. 1 M Dive, 3 M Dive
Margaret Kimball So. 100 Back
Mallory Kiplinger Fr. 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, 400 IM, 200 Free, 100 Free
Katherine Lee Fr. 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Tori Maffey Sr. 100 Back, 200 Back
Mary McGuire So. 200 Fly
Claire Nugent Sr. 100 Fly, 200 Fly
Katelyn O'Conner Jr. 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Back
Emma Porteus So. 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Laura Stark So. 500 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Free, 200 Breast
Lindsay Vickroy So. 100 Back, 100 Free

BOLD denotes events to be swam at BIG EAST Championships