WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB
January 26, 2011
Fresh off wins over Arizona State and Arizona, California men’s swimming and diving team moved up to the top spot in the TYR/CSCAA Division I poll released on Wednesday.
The Golden Bears, NCAA runners-up last year, are led by defending NCAA champions Nathan Adrian (100 freestyle), Damir Dugoniic (100 breaststroke) and Tom Shields (100 butterfly).
California knocked off Arizona, then No. 2 in the nation, 174.5-123.5. Arizona dropped to sixth this week. The Bears won nine races and both relays and finished 1-2 in seven events.
“We are certainly humbled by the fact we are ranked No. 1 in the nation after only two official dual meets,” Cal coach David Durden said.
“We will definitely have a chance to earn our ranking in the coming weeks when we host USC, Cal State Bakersfield and Stanford.”
Louisville, with SOFLO’s Kevin Bandy, moved from No. 19 to No. 18 in the men’s rankings.
Florida State dropped from No. 18 but remained in the Top 20 at No. 20. SOFLO’s Tyler Sell, a freshman, is making an impact his first college season with the Seminoles.
Stanford, after defeating Arizona, 178-114, held on to its top spot in the women’s rankings.
The Florida Gators, with SOFLO’s Taylor McKnight, a freshman, dropped from No. 6 to No. 8. Texas A&M, with SOFLO’s Melissa Cooper, also a freshman, dropped from No. 8 to No. 9. Indiana, with SOFLO’s Brittney Phelan, remained No. 14.
Despite its big win, FSU women, with SOFLO’s Tiffany Oliver and Ashley Hicks, both freshmen, were not ranked but received votes with 38, just one point shy of making No. 25. University of Miami also received votes (17) along with Florida Gulf Coast (7).
Men’s rankings
1.California, 2. Stanford, 3. Auburn, 4. Texas, 5. Florida, 6. Arizona, 7. Tennessee, 8. Southern California, 9. Georgia, 10. Virginia, 11. Ohio State, 12. North Carolina, 13. tie, Indiana, Michigan, 15. Minnesota, 16. Alabama, 17. UNLV, 18. Louisville, 19. Texas A&M, 20. Florida State, 21. Louisiana State, 22. South Carolina, 23. Purdue, 24. Iowa, 25. Navy.
Women’s rankings
1.Stanford, 2. Georgia, 3. Southern California, 4. California, 5. Auburn, 6. Texas, 7. Arizona, 8. Florida, 9. Texas A&M, 10. Tennessee, 11. Virginia, 12. North Carolina, 13. Minnesota, 14. Indiana, 15. Michigan, 16. Louisville, 17. Wisconsin, 18. Ohio State, 19. Purdue, 20. Arkansas, 21. UCLA, 22. Southern Methodist, 23. Louisiana State, 24. San Diego State, 25. Penn State, Arizona State.
Also receiving votes: Florida State.
Hervas, Biagioli Win FINA Open Water Grand Prix
Spain’s Francisco Hervas and Argentina’s Cecilia Biagioli won the men’s and women’s overall titles in the first race of the 2011 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Rosario, Argentina.
Hervas won the 15K race in 2:02.55 for his first FINA victory. The top three finishers were within two seconds of the other. Brian Rickeman of Belgium was second in 2:02.57 and Alexander Studzinski of Germany was third in 2:02.59.
Biagioli defended her race title in her backyard in 2:04.41. Reigning Grand Prix champion Pilar Geijo, also of Argentina was third in 2:11.09. Spain’s Esther Nunez Morera was second in 2:08.26.
The next open water race (57K) is January 30 in Santa Fe-Coronda, Argentina.
Georgia Women On A Roll
University of Georgia junior Allison Schmit was second in the 100-yard freestyle (50.44) and was named SEC Female Swimmer of the Week. Georgia improved to 7-0 and extended its streak of consecutive home wins to 73, dating back to the 1995-96 season.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats.com
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