Swimming & Diving Begins Practice on Monday
9/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Sept. 18, 2004
HOUSTON - The University of Houston swimming and diving program officially begins its season Monday with the start of practice at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.
Fifteen letterwinners from the 2003-04 Cougar team, which posted a UH single-season record nine dual meet victories and finished 22nd nationally at the NCAA Championships, return this year. In addition, the Cougars' third-place showing at the Conference USA Championships was the best finish by a UH team since the 1985-86 team finished third at the Southwest Conference Championship.
With a veteran group of performers and some talented newcomers, UH head coach Mark Taylor senses a new feeling of purpose among his Cougar squad.
"Their enthusiasm is one thing that we have that we have been lacking in the past," Taylor said. "We seem to have a lot of ladies who are excited about being here and want to excel and take our team to the next level."
Sophomore Szintia Szanto returns after an electrifying freshman season a year ago. The Budapest, Hungary, native recorded some of the school's all-time fastest times in the 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard individual medley and was on the cusp of qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
Kristin Bay is one of only three seniors on this year's team and should be a leader for the Cougars. A native of Tyler, Texas, Lee owned nine of the Cougars' top 10 fastest times in the 50-yard freestyle in 2003-04 and the 10 fastest times in the 100-yard backstroke.
The Cougar diving program annually ranks among the nation's best, and the 2004-05 edition should be no different. Under the leadership of diving head coach Jane Figueiredo, junior Azul Almazan and sophomore Anna Kiess return after earning All-America honors at the NCAA Championships.
Almazan was named the Conference USA Diver of the Year, while Kiess was recognized as the league's Freshman Diver of the Year after winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard events at the C-USA Championships.
"Our diving program is the No. 1 women's diving program in the country," Taylor said. "They are our showcase right now. We rely on them and are learning from them."
The Cougars open the 2004-05 season when they play host to Texas at 5 p.m., Oct. 15, in the CRWC Natatorium. However, before the regular season begins, the Cougars will square off against one another during the annual Red & White Meet at 3 p.m., Oct. 6.
All Cougar meets are free and open to the public.
The Texas dual meet will be the first of four dual meets held in the friendly waters of the CRWC Natatorium. UH will also welcome Rice (Noon, Oct. 16, TCU (7 p.m., Oct. 28) and both Texas A&M and Miami (Fla.) (1 p.m., Feb. 5) to their home facility.
In addition, the Cougars will host the UH Fall Invitational for the second consecutive season on Nov. 19-21. This season's three-day meet features the host Cougars, Rice, Incarnate Word and New Orleans.
The season culminates when the Cougars host the 2005 Conference USA Championship at the CRWC Natatorium on Feb. 23-26. A year ago, UH recorded a third-place finish, its best-ever showing as a C-USA member.