Fifty ‘Swimming Ducks’ take to water
A large turnout, a strong nucleus and a
number of talented incoming freshmen
characterize the University men's and women’s
swim teams as they prepare for competition this
year.
Dan Cole, in his fourth year as varsity coach
lor both teams, welcomes 50 swimmers to initiate
the 1984 season — 30 men and 20 women. Cole
says that this is the largest turnout of women in a
long time.
Cole will be assisted by Dan Winant, Quentin
Hogan and Jerry Andrus.
The Duck swimmers are presently working
out three mornings and five afternoons each
week, in addition to lifting weights three days a
Week, ’
. “We have a good group of young people who
are thus far-highly motivated and enthusiastic.”
says Cole. “We’re all looking forward to a good
year.” . ' . ■
Not only do the Ducks have the numbers this
year, but the personnel as well. Sophomore Steve .
Nichols tops the returning list for the men’s
squad, l-ast year,- Nichols broke the oldest stan
ding school- record, held since 1967, in the
50-meter freestyle, in addition to also capturing
records in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle
events.
junior Mark Cannard, record holder in the
100-meter backstroke, also returns, in addition to
veterans Rex Watkins, Chris Doyle and Brian
Flick. Freshmen Mark Duvall, from Springfield,
and Vince Hirayama, from Bellevue, Wash., will
provide the youth for the men’s team this season.
Despite finishing at the bottom of the Pac-10
Conference last year, the Ducks had nothing to be
ashamed of. The conference competition is tough
as is indicated by the fact that the top six finishers
in the conference finished among the top 15
teams in the nation at the NCAA championships
last season.
“In terms of the Northwest, we’ve done pret
ty well,” Cole says referring to the men’s second
place finish at the Pac-West Championships in
Eugene last year.
According to Cole, the men will be strong
depth-wise in terras of the distance freestyle
events.
As for the women, returnees Babette Brun
dage and Gwen Roedel will lead the team in its
quest for contention among the top three in the
Nor-Pac Conference. Last year, the Ducks wound
up in third just behind , California and
Washington.
“It was pleasing to be third with such a small
crew,” says Cole. “W'e were fortunate to have
some conference champs also.”
Brundage and Roedel, both distance
freestylers, will be supported by a cast of talented
freshmen: Lori VanMeter, last year’s high school
diying champion and All-American from Lake
Oswego: Patricia Lorys of Portland, who placed
second and third in the 500-meter and 200-meter
freestyle events in the state last year, and Virginia
Wharton, from Wenatchee, Wash
The women’s team will again see stiff com
petition from both California and Washington.
The Ducks began the season Friday with an
Lntrasquad “green and gold" meet. They will
open the dual meet season Nov. 9 at Leighton
Pool against the Tualatin Hills Swim Club of
Beaverton.
The swimmers wijl then travel to Corvallis to
compete with Oregon State and Idaho, Nov.
16-17.
“We're going to try to have another winning
•season dual meet-wise,” says Cole of both his
teams. “We’d like to see the women move up in
the Pac-West Championships and also get some
people qualified for the NCAA’s. We have people
who are qualified, and we'd like to see them get
the chance.”
Story by Capi Lynn
Photos by Lisa Svanevik
■imiimmMmmmmmmmrrmm
» . * m.
The University's “Swimming Ducks” open their 1984 dual meet season Nov. 9 at Leighton Pool
against Beaverton's Tualatin Hills Swim Club.
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