Anteaters at Big West Championships
Feb. 23, 2009
ANTEATERS AT BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS: The UC Irvine men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will compete at the Big West Championships Wednesday through Saturday at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach.
Competition begins Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. with the first full day of competition starting Thursday with prelims at 10:30 a.m. and finals at 6:00 p.m. at Belmont Plaza.
BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW: The Anteaters have several top athletes that have already won Big West titles and earned All-Big West honors in their careers. Senior Randall Tom (Wailuku, Hawaii/Seabury Hall) was the 2007 Big West Athlete of the Year and finished ninth in the 100 fly at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Junior Nate Rogers (Albuquerque, N.M./California), sophomore Garrett Thompson (Stockton/Lincoln HS) and senior Will Wollam (Riverside/Rubidoux HS) each were All-Big West in ’08 as members of the champion 400 free relay team. The ‘Eater men also return sophomore diver Miles Smith (Carmichael/Capital Christian HS) who won both Big West diving titles as a freshman in 2008.
On the women’s side, sophomore Ann Tsuchiya (South Pasadena/Mayfield HS) was a member of the 2008 Big West champion 800 free relay team. She also earned All-Big West honors in the 1000 free, 500 free and 1650 free. Senior diver Rachel Pearson (Van Nuys/Taft HS) was All-Big West in one-meter diving in 2008.
TOM LEADING THE WAY: Randall Tom has NCAA ‘B’ cut times in the 100 fly (46.48), the 200 fly (1:44.57) and the 100 breast (54.71).
Tom has been named Big West Swimmer of the Week twice this season. He has now won the award seven times in his career.
