PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Nov. 12, 2009) – The Rutgers swimming and diving team hosts West Virginia in a dual meet this Saturday, Nov. 14 at the RU Aquatic Center in the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center. The meeting between the two squads is the first head-to-head competition since 2003, where the Scarlet Knights defeated the Mountaineers, 142-91.
"West Virginia has a terrific team,” said head coach Chuck Warner. “They combine two of the best swimmers in the conference over the last three years with a top-25 freshman class. This will be a great challenge for our team."
Last season, during the BIG EAST Championship, Rutgers defeated West Virginia by just three points to earn fourth overall. The standings came down to the final 400 free relay.
The year before at the BIG EAST Championship, WVU got the best of RU, earning third as the Scarlet Knights finished fifth.
Rutgers is coming off wins against UConn and Villanova in Storrs, Conn. Shayna Longacre (Barto, Pa.) grabbed the headline of the day, as she was part of six first-place finishes and three pool records. For her efforts, the senior was named BIG EAST Swimmer of the Week.
At Connecticut, the Barto, Pa. native set a new pool record at the Wolff-Zackin Natatorium in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.15. That mark broke her previous pool record set in 2007. Longacre swam the second leg of the 400 free, 200 medley, and 200-free relay races. With the 400 free, the team (Melanie Gaffey, Longacre, Jackie Klein, and Brittney Kuras) touched the wall at 3:28.21 for the pool record and first-place finish. The 200 free – Gaffey, Longacre, Brianne Lindblad, and Kuras – also set a pool record with a time of 1:36.23.
Another swimmer that should score points for the Scarlet Knights, Catherine Whetstone (Haven Beach, N.J.) set a new pool record at UConn in the 100 back with a gold medal time of 55.85.
Senior captain Erin Saunders (Holmes, Pa.) will lead the RU divers. She delivered a first place finish in the one meter dive with a score of 270.15 at UConn.
