Jan. 26, 2006

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's swimming and diving teams will compete at the Aquatic and Fitness Center for the first time since the Patriot Invitational back in November. The Patriots will first host American, Old Dominion and Army on Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. and will then face Mary Washington, as well as Marymount the following day (1 p.m.).

Most recently, Mason swam against Towson and both teams defeated the Tigers as the men won by a score of 145-75, while the women posted a 142-96 win on Jan. 14 at the Burdick Pool in Towson, Md.

On the women's side against TU, the Patriots (3-4, 3-3 CAA) had three double-winners as freshman Allie Smith (Winchester, Va.) posted a time of 2:13.51 to win the 200 IM and she went on to finish second in the 1650-yard freestyle (17:46.32). Sophomore Mallory Pucci (Raleigh, N.C.) took the 200 free with a time of 1:56.49 and also won the 500 free (5:13.04). On the boards, Mason took the top-three spots in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events. Junior Colleen Flack (Langhorne, Pa.) led the way in both events as she won the one-meter (248.02) and the three-meter (282.45), which earned her Colonial Athletic Association Female Diver of the Week honors on Jan. 17.

For the men (6-0, 5-0 CAA), the Patriots' junior Joe Houchin (Raleigh, N.C.) placed first in three events on the day. He captured the 200-freestyle in a time of 1:44.89, the 200-butterfly (1:55.14) and was a member of the 200-medley relay that posted a top-time of 1:37.85.

In the 1650-freestyle, Mason junior Tom Koucheravy (Fairfax, Va.) took the top-spot with a mark of 15:54.97, while Towson senior Jimmy Morris was the next swimmer to finish, almost a minute behind Koucheravy (16:51.12). The Patriots took the top-three places in the 50-free with Eric Wellington leading the way in a time of 22.10 seconds. In the 200-IM Mason's Andrew Ryder placed first (2:03.01), while teammate B.J. Dufresne garnered a second place finish with a time of 2:03.57.

In the diving events, Mason freshman Ryan Metzker (Fairfax, Va.) captured both the 1-meter (258.82) and the 3-meter (288.60), which earned him CAA Male Diver of the Week on Jan. 17.

Mason's last dual meet is on Feb. 3 against Howard (5 p.m.) in Fairfax and the Patriots will wrap-up the regular season as they host the CAA Championships at the Aquatic and Fitness Center Feb. 22-25.