Twelve Swimmers Earn All-Conference Honors
March 03, 2009 | Swimming & Diving
March 3, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Twelve East Carolina swimmers earned All-Conference USA honors in 10 events, while setting 28 varsity and freshman records at the 2009 C-USA Championships and Invitational over the weekend in Houston.
To be named all-conference, an athlete must finish in the top three of his or her event.
"It was the greatest swimming weekend in our history," said Pirate head coach Rick Kobe. "Over 90 percent of the times our kids swam were either school records or personal best times. With the 28 records we set, we put our program at another level. It was an unbelievable weekend for our program."
Sophomore Thiago Cavalcanti set varsity records and earned all-conference honors in three events: 200-free (1:38.44), 500-free (4:25.13) and the 1650-free (15:31.96). He also set a varsity record in the 1,000-free (9:18.13) during his 1650-free swim to bring his total number of records set during the weekend to four.
Three breaststroke records were also broken on the men's side. Sophomore Tommy Ryan set the varsity records in the 100 (55.22) and 200-breaststroke (2:01.92) and earned all-conference honors in both events, while Travis Stauder established a new freshman mark in the 100 (55.64).
Ryan teamed with Hunter Mehaffey, Andrew Stoker an Ailton Temotio to set the 400-medley relay record (3:20.27) earning all-conference accolades as well.
Single event varsity records were also broken during the men's invitational by Jason Guzewich in the 50-free (20.58) and Jeffrey Miller in the 200-fly (1:49.46).
Guzewich helped the 200 (1:21.16) and 400-free (3:01.14) relay teams set new varsity marks as well.
Six members of the ladies team combined to set 11 records, eight varsity and three freshman, during the championship meet and made a pair of NCAA `B' cut times.
Sophomore Jenna Stewart became the fastest swimmer in ECU history setting the varsity record with an all-conference performance in the 50-free (22.84). She established a new record in 100-free (49.92) as well. Stewart was also part of the record-setting 200-free (1:33.02), 200-medley (1:42.29) and 400-medley (3:42.59) relay teams.
Senior Amanda Duncan concluded her career with record-breaking performances in the 100 (53.67) and 200-fly (2:00.15). Her time in the 100-fly was also an NCAA `B' cut performance. She was also a member of the 200 and 400-medley relay teams.
Recording an NCAA `B' cut time in the 200-breaststroke was sophomore Stephanie Harper with a varsity record time of 2:14.45 to claim a spot on the all-conference list.
Freshman Kelsey Brosi generated a new varsity and freshman 200-back record with a time of 2:02.27. She also produced freshman record times in the 100 (51.55) and 200-free (1:51.92).
Junior Rachel Blue was multi-event record breaker as well, setting new marks in the 200 (1:48.78) and 500-free (4:52.38).
Stewart, Brosi, Blue and Kali Gaskill each earned all-conference accolades for their performance in the 400-free relay.
Twenty-one ECU student-athletes reached the finals of 38 events during the 2009 C-USA Championships and Invitational.
All-Conference USA Performers
Men
Thiago Cavalcanti (500 Freestyle / 200 Freestyle / 1650 Freestyle
Travis Stauder (100 Breaststroke / 200 Breaststroke)
Tommy Ryan (400 Medley Relay / 200 Breaststroke)
Hunter Mehaffey (400 Medley Relay)
Andrew Stoker (400 Medley Relay)
Ailton Temotio (400 Medley Relay)
Women
Jenna Stewart (50 Free / 400 Freestyle Relay)
Stephanie Harper (200 Breaststroke)
Kelsey Brosi (400 Freestyle Relay)
Rachel Blue (400 Freestyle Relay)
Kali Gaskill (400 Freestyle Relay)
Amanda Duncan (200 Butterfly)
