Pirates To Hold Intrasquad Meet

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The East Carolina University men's and women's swimming and diving teams plunge into action on Friday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m., with the annual Purple and Gold Intrasquad Meet. There is no admission charge for the competition at Minges Natatorium.

"It's typically the first opportunity for our team to get up and race," said Pirate head coach Rick Kobe, who is in his 35^th season at the helm. "It's a good way for our swimmers to get some early season times in the events that they'll be competing in during the dual meet season and moving forward into the championship meet. This will give us a little indication on where we are."

A year ago, the Pirates captured their second straight American Athletic Conference Men's Swimming and Diving Championship, set school records in six individual events and a relay, while posting 38 all-conference performances and 19 NCAA "B" cuts. ECU finished the dual meet season with a record of 4-2, for its 33rd consecutive non-losing season.

"One of our goals is to win a third straight championship," Kobe said. "Two years ago our goal was to win one and we did that and then we won our second last year. We'll have a good opportunity to [win another title]."

The men's squad returns its top performer in eight individual events, including a trio of American Athletic Conference champions. Senior Fran Krznaric holds the ECU varsity record in the 100 and 200 backstroke and is the reigning conference champion in the 200 backstroke and 200 IM. His classmate, William Hicks, also captured a pair of gold medals at the 2016 league championships, touching first in the 100 and 200 breaststroke.

Hicks' top time in each of those events ranks as second fastest in school history.

Boleck De Pawlikowski returns for his junior campaign following a year in which he was the recipient of the team's Most Improved Award and claimed first-place in the 200 IM at The American Championships.

The ECU women's team returns its top performer in 13 of 18 individual events. The squad is comprised of eight seniors and nine juniors, including two redshirts with three sophomores and six freshmen in the mix.

Last season, the Pirates recorded their 24^th consecutive winning dual meet season with seven athletes earning all-conference honors, including four returnees. Twelve of the 20 returnees this season have combined to post 25 all-time top-10 times/scores at ECU led by junior Julie Lajoie with four.

The varsity record holder in the 400 IM, Lajoie also ranks among the school all-time top 10 on the 200 IM, 200 backstroke and 500 freestyle. Last season she reached the finals in a pair of events at The American Championships, this year she expects to contend for a place on the podium.

Redshirt junior Tori Angermeier, who holds the school record in the 200 freestyle and ranks second all-time in the 100 freestyle, returns after missing the 2015-16 season with an injury.

Junior Vendela Norrman returns for another record-setting year. As a sophomore she set the ECU record in the 200 breaststroke during last season's conference championship meet and took home the gold medal in the process. Her time in the 100 breaststroke is just 0:00.57 off the varsity mark, a record that she is expected to own at the end of the season.

First-year coach Darian Schmidt, who joined the coaching staff over the summer, will lead the diving squad. He inherits a group that includes a foursome of conference championship meet finalists: Taylor Berkey, Zach Duval, Matt Mullen and Ashley Sams. Redshirt junior Alicia Roueche also returns after sitting out last season due to injury.

East Carolina will open the dual meet season on Oct. 15 against Navy at Minges Natatorium. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Players Mentioned

Tori Angermeier

Taylor Berkey

Boleck De Pawlikowski

Zach Duval

Will Hicks

Fran Krznaric

Julie Lajoie

Matt Mullen

Vendela Norrman

Alicia Roueche

Ashley Sams

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