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Blue Hens Women’s Swimming & Diving Team Aiming High at 2013 CAA Championships

February 26, 2013

File Photo Courtesy of UD Photo Services

NEWARK, Del. –The University of Delaware men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will begin post-season action on Wednesday, as the 2013 Colonial Athletic Association Swimming & Diving Championships are set to begin at George Mason’s Jim McKay Natatorium.

The Patriots have hosted the competition for the past 13 seasons, will kick-off the championships with preliminaries at noon and finals at 6 p.m. The final three days will have trials at 9 a.m., diving at 1 p.m. and finals at 6 p.m.

Individual champions will be crowned in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1,650-yard freestyles along with the 100- and 200-yard events in the backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke as well as the 200- and 400-yard individual medley and the 1- and 3-meter dives. Relay titles will also be awarded in the 200- and 400-medley relays and the 200-, 400-, and 800-freestyle events.

Led by head coach John Hayman (at right), the Delaware men (6-3, 2-3 CAA) look to improve upon their fifth place finish during the 2012 CAA Championships. The Blue Hens defeated Towson and Drexel during the regular season.

Senior captain Ryan Roberts, a two-time CAA Swimmer of the Week winner, will look to defend his title in 200 backstroke and posted the second-best time this season in the event while also recording the top time in the 500 free (4:34.57). Roberts also was a Top 5 finisher in the 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay at last year’s championships. Roberts earned a combined 22 first-place finishes in the 200 medley relay, 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay and 1000 freestyle during his final season at Delaware.

Paul Gallagher looks to build on his Top 5 finish in the 400 freestyle relay during last year’s championships. During his senior season, Gallagher posted six wins in the 100 freestyle, five in the 200 medley relay in addition to four wins in the 50 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay.

Delaware’s men’s diving team will lean on freshman Luke Winkler, a NCAA Zone A Diving qualifier and CAA Diver of the Week winner, for points during his first CAA championships. Winkler produced three wins in the 3-meter competition and one in the 1-meter dive during his first season in Newark.

On the women’s side, Delaware (8-3, 4-3 CAA) will look to build on its eighth-place finish in last year’s championships. UD posted victories over George Mason, UNCW, Drexel and Northeastern this season.

Senior Courtney Raw had two Top 5 finishes at the 2012 CAA Championships in the 400 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay. This year, Raw produced four wins in the 200 medley relay along with four first-place in the 100 backstroke and three in the 200 backstroke.

Senior Mary Kay Harris posted a pair of top 5 finishes a year ago at the CAA Championships in the 400 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay. Harris was a key member of four 400 medley relay championships this season for the Blue Hens.

Blue Hen women’s divers are led by freshman Kristina Congdon (at right), who is a NCAA Zone A qualifier and CAA Diver of the Week award winner in her first season. Congdon earned four wins in the 1-meter competition and one in the 3-meter competition as a freshman.

For more information on the 2013 CAA Swimming and Diving championships including daily recaps, highlights, live results, and official program please visit www.bluehens.com and www.caasports.com. Fans not in attendance at the championship can watch all the finals of all the events live and for free on www.caasports.com.

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