Nov. 2, 2002
FAIRFAX, VA ... It was a sweep for the Mason swimming and diving program Saturday afternoon at the Aquatic & Fitness Center, as the women defeated William & Mary 142-101 and the men defeated W&M 150-89.
With the victories, both teams remain unbeaten early in the season, with the Patriot women 3-0 and the Patriot men 2-0. It also marked the first time that either Mason team had picked up a win over the Tribe program.
"It is, by far, our best start for both programs," said head coach Peter Ward.
For the women, freshman diver Liz Gabriel (Rockville, MD) won the 1-meter event (260.16) and qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships. She will join teammates Mary Campioli (Falls Church, VA) and Jamie Downing (Midlothian, VA), who qualified in earlier meets, at the Regional event in March. The trio swept through both diving events Saturday, as Campioli was second in the 1-meter, followed by Downing. Downing won the 3-meter (277.50), followed by Campioli and Gabriel.
"Our divers were just spectacular," said Ward. "Liz, as a freshman, really stepped up today."
The men also went 1-2-3 in dives, with John Appleman (Fairfax, VA) winning both the 1-meter (235.50) and the 3-meter (290.25), followed by Justin Bates (Virginia Beach, VA) and Leo Emerson (Reston, VA) in both events. Appleman, who set the school record in the 1-meter Friday, set a new standard in the 3-meter with his score Saturday.
David Cooper (Centreville, VA) won three events for the Mason men, capturing the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.48), 100-yard freestyle (48.23) and the 200-yard breaststroke (2:09.70).
"Winning the 100- and 200-yard freestyles and the 200-yard breaststroke shows David's incredible versatility," commented Ward.
Tim Norton (Virginia Beach, VA) and Wes Ebanks (St. Charles, IL) were also multi-event winners. Norton won the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:48.22) and the 200-yard butterfly (1:54.42), while Ebanks won the 200-yard IM (1:58.64) and the 200-yard backstroke (1:56.37).
"Norton was phenomenal, winning both events in great fashion," Ward said.
Lauren Stinnett (Reston, VA) won both the 200-yard butterfly (2:07.79) and 200-yard backstroke (2:06.61) as a multi-event winner for the Patriot women.
Christy Anderson (Caledon East, Ontario) won the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:39.10), Stefani Lubore (Ashburn, VA) took the 200-yard freestyle (1:58.68) and Sam Ladeveze (Chesapeake, VA) captured the 50-yard freestyle (24.84).
"Sam came into our program kind of unheralded, but she's worked hard and has turned into a big player in the sprints in our conference," Ward said of the junior. "Overall, our sprinters continue to do a very good job for us."
In relays, the men's team of Ebanks, Nathan Kellogg (Sandston, VA), Cameron Charlton (Springfield, Ontario) and Todd Long (Bethlehem, PA) won the 400-yard medley (3:31.42). The women's team of Emily Welty (Williamsburg, VA), Katie Swearingen (Centreville, VA), Lacy Richardson (Blue Ridge, VA) and Ladeveze won the 400-yard freestyle (3:42.61), and the squad of Lubore, Stinnett, Anderson and Ladeveze took the 400-yard medley (3:59.30).
Both teams travel to UNC Wilmington Friday, home of the defending men's CAA Champions, and then hit the College of Charleston Saturday.
