IRVINE -- The BYU men's and women's swimming and diving teams fared well in the Championship Round of the Big West Shootout Saturday. The men defeated Washington (76-63), Pacific (98-40) and the University of California at Santa Barbara (89-49), while the women defeated Washington (73-65) and the University of California at Santa Barbara (76-62), but fell to Pacific (57-81).
All-American Arunas Savickas and teammate Gary Tan once again led the BYU men's squad. Savickas won three individual events, the 100, 200 and 500 free, winning the 500 free by nearly 13 seconds. Tan won two individual events for the second consecutive day, winning both the 100 and 200 back. Tan also finished second in the 100 fly, just one-tenth of a second behind the winner. BYU's Nick Tobler and Mike Mullen also competed well. Tobler won the 100 breast and finished second in the 200 breast, while Mullen won the 50 free. The Cougars 200 medley relay team also swam to a first-place finish.
Tamber Covington and Heidi Lietz led the BYU women's team for the second consecutive day. Covington captured first in both the 100 and 200 breast while Lietz swam to another first-place finish in the 50 free. Amy McClellan finished second in the 200 back, just a half-second behind the winner.
The BYU divers dominated at its end of the pool. For the men, Viraj Patil, Justin Wilcock and Aaron Russell finished 1-2-3 on both the 1-meter and the 3-meter board. On the women's side, Rachelle Routsong and Anna Tutunnikova finished 1-2 on the 1-meter board while Tessa Clark and Routsong finished 1-2 on the 3-meter board.
The BYU women's swimming and diving team travel to Albuquerque to face New Mexico and Northern Arizona, Nov. 9, and to participate in the New Mexico Invitational, Nov. 10-11, while the men have the week off.
The men's and women's swimming and diving teams will travel to Irvine, Calif., this weekend to participate in the Big West Shootout. BYU will be one of many schools competing in the event, which lasts all day Friday and Saturday.
Last Weekend
The men and women swept in-state rival Utah Friday night in Provo. BYU's women won eight of 13 events, while the men claimed all 13 events.
Men Swimmers to Watch
Arunas Savickas, senior: Swims back and free. Won the 200 free, and led both the 400 medley relay team and the 400 free relay team to dominant first-place finishes against Utah. He has earned All-America honors all three years at BYU.
Gary Tan, sophomore: Swims back and IM. Tan won both of his individual races against Utah, placing first in the 200 IM and the 200 back. He was also on the winning 400 medley relay team.
Terrence Lim, freshman: Swims distance. In his first collegiate meet, Lim won both the 500 and the 1000 free against Utah.
Women Swimmers to Watch
Heidi Lietz, sophomore: Swims free and fly. Lietz won both the 50 and the 100 free, and swam on the winning 400 medley relay team against Utah.
Tamber Covington, freshman: Swims breast and IM. In her first collegiate meet, Covington won the 200 IM and the 200 breast against Utah, setting a new pool and school-altitude record in the 200 breast. She was a high school All-American and a 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier.
Jennifer Tasker, senior: Swims breast. Tasker is the defending MWC Champion in the 200 breast. She earned All-America honors last year and is a four-time Olympic Trials participant.
Divers to Watch
Aaron Russell, sophomore: Won the 3M event and placed second on the 1M against Utah. Russell is the defending MWC Champion on the 1M board.
Justin Wilcock, sophomore: Won the 1M event against Utah. 1998 WAC Champion on 1M, 3M and platform.
Kelli Einfeldt, sophomore: Won both the 1M and the 3M events against Utah.
Rachelle Routsong, freshman: Placed second on the 1M board against Utah.
