University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
<b>C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP</b>
Swimming & Diving Places Fourth at C-USA Championship
3/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
March 2, 2008
Complete Results | Photo Gallery 
Complete Results (Feb. 27-March 1, 2008) in PDF Format 
HOUSTON- A strong meet on the diving boards helped the University of Houston secure a fourth-place finish at the 2008 conference USA Swimming & Diving Championship held at CRWC Natatorium.
Head diving coach, Jane Figueiredo, was voted C-USA Diving Coach of the Year for an unprecedented sixth consecutive year.
"It's truly an honor to win the award," Figueiredo said. "I have a great group of divers and I'm glad they performed well.
One of the biggest surprises of the meet came from UH freshman Courtney Forcucci, who was voted the C-USA Diver of the Meet. Forcucci won the 1-meter event, captured silver in the 3-meter and scored fourth in the platform competition.
The Cougars finished the meet with a total of 431 points, placing them ahead of fifth-place Marshall. SMU won the team championship with 926 points. Rice followed in second and East Carolina finished in third-place.
Junior Sasha Schwendenwein swam a 2:01.23 to place 2nd in the 200-yard butterfly. The time is the second fastest in school history and stands as a NCAA `B' qualifying time.
Freshman Andrea Kells' time of 2:10.62 was good enough for 8th place in the event.
In the 200-yard backstroke junior Andrea Pa'lmai took home the bronze medal as she swam the second fastest in school history(2:01.58).
Sophomore Kristine Kelly swam a time of 2:14.41 to place 15th.
Other scores were a 12th-place finish by junior Doreen Polotzek in the 200-yard breaststroke, a 10th place finish by freshman Brittany Copeland in the 100-yard freestyle (52.24), a 14th-place finish by Kelly in the 1,650-yard freestyle (19:05.44). Freshmen Markee Johnson also placed 15th in the 1,650-yard freestyle (20:12.30).
" I would consider the meet an outstanding success," head swimming coach Mark Taylor said. "We exceeded expectations and most of our girls stepped up and performed lifetime bests."
On the diving side, the Cougars continued their dominance placing three student-athletes in the Top Four.
Freshman Lacey Truelove won gold with a score of 308.30. Senior Ginni van Katwijk won the bronze and Forcucci placed forth.
Several Cougars qualified for the NCAA Zone D Diving Meet, which will be held March 14-16 at UH's CRWC Natatorium. The NCAA Championship, held in Columbus, Ohio, will be held March 20-22.
Players Mentioned
