Weekly Release #1
10/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 24 -- vs. Florida (Canham Natatorium), 6 p.m.
Fri-Sat., Nov. 1-2 -- at North Carolina, vs. Minnesota (Chapel Hill, N.C.), 6 p.m./11 a.m.
This Week
The University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team opens up its 2002-03 season with a dual meet against Florida at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines will take on the Gators starting at 6 p.m.
Scouting the Opponent
Florida C Michigan be able to measure where it stands in the early going with its result against the Gators. Florida has a strong group of athletes, including 11 All-Americans, returning from its sixth place performance at the 2002 NCAA Championships. The Gators also took home their 16th Southeastern Conference title at the end of last season. The Gators are coached by Gregg Troy, who is in his fifth year as head coach of both Florida's men's and women's teams. Michigan has faced Florida on two prior occasions
Michigan in Season Openers
The Wolverines will look to win their 15th season opener over the last 17 years with the opening dual meet against Florida on Thursday night. Since the 1986-87 season, Michigan has posted a 14-3 record in opening dual meets, which includes one tri-meet that was held in 2000-01 against Iowa and Wisconsin. The Wolverines dropped a close 156-142 meet at Florida to open its 2001-02 schedule.
2001-02 in Review
Last season, Michigan finished 27th at the NCAA Championships and placed fifth at the 2002 Big Ten Championships despite struggling with injuries to some its top competitors throughout the year. Junior Anne Weilbacher (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis De Salles HS) was a two-time NCAA All-America Honorable Mention in the 100-yard butterfly and the 400-yard medley relay. Senior Erin Abbey (Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield HS), senior/junior Laura Kaznecki (Wolverine Lake, Mich./Western HS) and sophomore Amy McCullough (West Bloomfield, Mich./Mercy HS) also earned All-America Honorable Mention in the medley relay as well.
Introducing ...
Michigan welcomes three newcomers to its 2002-03 roster. Freshmen Clinique Brundidge (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup HS), Elsa Larson (Portland, Ore./Lincoln HS) and Abby Seskevics (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) all join the Wolverines for their first year of collegiate competition.
Back in the Fast Lane
Michigan senior Traci Valasco (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) is ready to return to the form of her sophomore year after sitting out all of last season with an injury. A junior by eligibility, Valasco was a three-time All-America Honorable Mention at the 2001 NCAA Championships (March 15-17) held in Long Island, N.Y. Valasco turned in a top-15 finish in the 200-yard breaststroke and helped two of Michigan's medley relay teams finish among the top 15 teams as well.
Leaders and Some of the Best
The Wolverines have named two captains for the 2002-03 season, as senior Erin Abbey and junior Anne Weilbacher have been selected to lead the Maize and Blue. Abbey earned All-America Honorable Mention last season, while Weilbacher is one of the most decorated Wolverines with four NCAA All-America Honorable Mentions.
Head Coach Jim Richardson
Michigan head coach Jim Richardson is entering his 19th year at the helm of the Wolverines. Over that time, his teams have dominated the Big Ten Conference, winning 12 consecutive league titles from 1987-98 and adding the team's 13th in 2001. During the 1998 season, Richardson recorded his 100th career victory, against Indiana University on Jan. 30. Since taking over the program in 1985-86, Michigan has finished in the NCAA top 10 all but six years. In 1995, Michigan finished in second place as a team and followed that in 1996 by hosting the NCAA Championships and finishing third.
On the Horizon
Michigan will take its first of two consecutive trips to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a tri-meet against Minnesota and, host, North Carolina next Friday (Nov. 1). The first day of competition is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and day two kicks off at 11 a.m. The Wolverines will then take a week off from competition before returning to Chapel Hill for the Nike Cup (Nov. 21-23).
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
