Feb. 21, 2004

Results

FAIRFAX, VA--George Mason University's women's swimming and diving team and UNC Wilmington's men's team both claimed their third-straight Colonial Athletic Swimming & Diving Championship earlier this evening at the Aquatic and Fitness Center with scores of 573 and 668.50, respectively. Mason's men's team finished second for the first time in school history with a score of 567.5.

"I am thrilled to see our women stand up and win the CAAs," said head coach Peter Ward. "We trained all year for this and the women showed why they are three-time defending conference champions."

Mason's junior Christy Anderson claimed the 200-yard backstroke title with a time of 2:19.21, while freshman Stephanie Ramsey (UNCW) finished first in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:05.12. Towson senior Jen Irby set a new meet record in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.58 and she also provisionally qualifies for the NCAAs with this time.

Senior Sarah Peffer (Delaware), who was named Women's Outstanding Swimmer of the CAA Championships, is a provisional qualifier for the NCAAs in the 1,650-yard freestyle after finishing first with a time of 16:45.07, which is also a new meet record and a conference top performer. Freshman Beatrice Szilard (ODU) is another provisional qualifier for the NCAAs in the 200-yard backstroke as she registered a time of 2:01.59 to earn the gold.

Towson's 400-yard freestyle relay of freshman Liz Lebhertz, freshman Aly Hunt, senior Jackie Cona and Irby placed first with a CAA top performance time of 3:27.34.

The Patriots' freshman Tom Koucheravy won the gold in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 15:38.99, while teammate sophomore Tim Norton won the 200-yard butterfly (1:50.53). James Madison's 400-yard freestyle relay team of sophomore Danny Gray, senior Mike Nicholas, senior Jeff Hicks and senior Geoff Meyer placed first with a time of 3:01.44.

"The men did a phenomenal job in the Championships," said Ward. "This is the first time that the Mason men have finished second and this is a great group of guys for it to happen to."

Aaron Krause (Sr.; Towson), who was named Men's Outstanding Swimmer of the CAA Championships, finished first in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:45.61 to provisionally qualify for the NCAAs. Meyer (JMU) placed first in the 100-yard freestyle (45.26), while senior Frank Trionfo of Towson finished first in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:01.79.

Drexel's Anthony Perry (Sr.), who was named Men's Outstanding Diver of the CAA Championships, set a new conference meet record in the 3-meter diving event to claim first place (601.60), while Mason's sophomore John Appleman finished third with a score of 497.45.

2004 CAA Swimming and Diving
Championships Final Results

Women's
1. George Mason	573
2. UNC Wilmington	536
3. Davidson	497
4. Towson	412
5. Delaware	354
6. Old Dominion	330
7. William & Mary	309
8. James Madison	281
9. Drexel	198
10. Col. of Charleston	111
	Total: 3,601.00

Men's
1. UNCW	668.5
2. George Mason	567.5
3. James Madison	522.5
4. Towson	404
5. William & Mary	334
6. Old Dominion	331
7. Drexel	295.5
8. Davidson	212
9. Col. of Charleston	135
10. Delaware	134
	Total: 3,604.00

2004 CAA Swimming and Diving Championships Awards

Women's Outstanding Swimmer of the CAA Championship:
		Sarah Peffer (Delaware)
Men's Outstanding Swimmer of the 2004 CAA Championship:
		Aaron Krause (Towson)
Women's Outstanding Diver of the 2004 CAA Championship:
		Jamie Downing (George Mason)
Men's Outstanding Diver of the 2004 CAA Championship:
		Anthony Perry (Drexel)
Women's Swimming Coach of the Year: Tim Kelly (Davidson)
Men's Swimming Coach of the Year: Dave Allen (UNCW)
Women's Diving Coach of the Year:
	Roland McDonald (George Mason)
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Larry May (Drexel)