Buckeyes Swimming And Diving Open 2001-02 Season – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swim & Dive
Oct. 9, 2001
SCARLET AND GRAY SQUADS SQUARE OFF IN COED MEET
The Ohio State men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams open their season with an inter- squad scrimmage Friday at 5 p.m. at the Mike Peppe Aquatic Center in Larkins Hall. The men and the women will compete on Friday. The men will return to the water again Saturday morning for another exhibition meet against alumni swimmers.
OHIO STATE MEN’S COACH BILL WADLEY
Coach Wadley is entering his 13th season as the head coach for the men’s team. Wadley is seeking continued success this season after notching a 10-1 overall mark in 2000-01. During his tenure at Ohio State, Wadley has compiled an impressive 112-19 mark. Wadley’s Buckeyes have been ranked in the NCAA top 20 for the past 11 seasons.
WADLEY’S EXPECTATIONS
With the loss of only two seniors (Brian Malich, Daniel D.J. Kelley) from a 2001 squad that posted a 10-1 record and the addition of two established transfers and a highly-touted recruiting class, Wadley fully expects OSU once again will make a splash in the national ranking and in the Big Ten.
“Our goal every season is to finish in the Top 25 and compete for a Big Ten Championship,” Wadley said. “We have an experienced group of upperclassmen coming back and a sizable freshman class we think can have an immediate impact.”
Gone is Brian Malich, an All-American freestyler. OSU brings plenty of talent and experience to the water, however.
“We probably don’t have a single superstar,” Wadley said. “Instead, we have several highly talented swimmers with a chance to do something at the national level. We’re going to miss Brian Malich, but we have plenty of talent.”
Seniors Travis Carver (freestyle), Nick Cheney (freestyle), Ivan Petrovic (backstroke), Dan Vitina (backstroke/freestyle), along with juniors Nick Rees (butterfly), Vladi Dusil (freestyle) and David Paul (freestyle/butterfly), will be counted on to step up their own performances and to guide the newcomers. OHIO STATE WOMEN’S COACH JEANNE FLECK
The women’s team is looking for bigger and better things this season after a recording a 6-7 mark last season and a 9-15 mark over the last two seasons. Coach Fleck said her team was very young and is now expecting huge strides this year.
“We’ve got a great group of girls and we definitely have to improve on last year,” Fleck said. “We have to move up in the Big Ten, especially. A majority of our top swimmers last year were freshman. Our maturity level is a lot better. One of the biggest things we have to do is swim better when we’re tired. We really need to improve on our dual meet record and I’m confident we’ll be able to do that.”
FLECK’S EXPECATIONS
When you talk about the success returning for the women, you have to start with All-American diver Natalia Diea. Diea earned a sixth place finish at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships and will look to better that this season. Amanda Treleaven shined for the swimmers in her freshman season-setting a Peppe Aquatic Center record in the freestyle and a school record in the 100 backstroke. Katie Severson (freestyle) was the quickest swimmer in three different events and was named OSU’s newcomer of the year.
“We were very young last year,” Fleck said. “13 of our top swimmers in each event were freshman and all 16 of our top times are all returning also. A lot of the younger swimmers will now have to step up and mature more quickly having a full year under their belts.”
DIVING COACH VINCE PANZANO
Coach Panzano is entering his 24th season as the head diving coach at Ohio State. Panzano is a 1973 graduate of Ohio State and returned to his alma mater in 1978 to serve as the diving coach. A few of Panzano’s many accolades include being a three-time NCAA Diving Coach of the Year (’86, ’87 and ’88) and six-time Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year.
REES RESOUNDS
Nick Rees has competed at the highest level, an attribute Wadley thinks will help his team as a whole. Rees represented his homeland, the Bahamas, in the 2000 Olympic Games and qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 butterfly with a time of :47.95 last spring, 23rd best in the country.
“Nick Rees’ experience in the NCAA championships and the Olympics will be a tremendous help to achieve our team and individual goals,” Wadley said. “He is capable of winning a Big Ten title and being an All-American if he continues to dedicate himself.”
CORNHUSKER CONTRIBUTORS
A pair of transfers from Nebraska, Carlos Oliva and Andreas Campioni, also will be counted to lead by example.
“Both of those athletes can be a tremendous asset to our program,” Wadley said. “Carlos brings NCAA experience and Andreas has a lot of talent and experience.”
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The 2001 Buckeye roster will include 15 newcomers. Wadley said the success of the incoming class is crucial to the success of the team as a whole.
“Of the 15 incoming swimmers, we think eight or nine could be Big Ten scorers their first year if they work hard,” Wadley said. “If they continue to improve, they have a chance to really help the team and make a big impact. A lot of our success this season is going to depend on how quickly they step up and rise to the occasion.”
UP NEXT
OSU opens the fall season on the road with in-state opponent Ohio and will also host Cleveland State Nov. 20. The Buckeyes host Maryland and Virginia Tech in a tri-meet Nov. 3 and West Virginia Nov. 9 and will also swim at the Pittsburgh Invite Nov. 16-18.
