Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSwim | Orange mixes up lineup, uses home meet as trial run
By Heath D. Williams
Posted: 10/22/07, 1:32 AM EST Section: Sports
Through the first three strokes of the first heat of the men's 200-yard individual medley, an event he hadn't swum since high school, Sean Ellis was neck-in-neck with Army's James Zordan.
Even after the backstroke, Ellis' specialty, the Syracuse junior on the men's swim team couldn't shake his opponent. Then he made the turn into the freestyle and turned it up a notch, kicking quickly and using short, powerful arm movement to grab the lead and win the heat by three seconds.
Ellis' time (2:08.53) was only good for 24th overall in the event after the other heats, but he was still pleased with his performance in the event.
"I haven't done a lot of things in college that I did in high school, so it feels good to race again," Ellis said.
Ellis was just one of many swimmers who were thrust into different roles at this weekend's Orange Invitational in which Syracuse hosted Army and Marist at the Max Newman Pool at Nottingham High School. With the swimming results not counting toward the team's overall record for the season, the event allowed SU head coach Lou Walker to test his swimmers in different races. The diving events took place at the Ted Webster Pool in Archbold Gymnasium.
Despite the different lineups, the Syracuse men took first in 10 of 17 events while the women dominated, winning 15 of 17. The Orange failed to place in the top three in only three swimming events out of 34.
The Syracuse divers didn't register any first-place finishes, but Corey Psoinos took second in the men's one-meter competition.
Freestyle distance swimmers Natalie Mazzetta (four wins) and Alex Taraskin (three wins) paced the Orange in a meet designed to improve individual times. With multiple heats for each event, Syracuse head coach Lou Walker had some leeway with how to arrange his lineup, placing swimmers in events they don't normally swim.
Even after the backstroke, Ellis' specialty, the Syracuse junior on the men's swim team couldn't shake his opponent. Then he made the turn into the freestyle and turned it up a notch, kicking quickly and using short, powerful arm movement to grab the lead and win the heat by three seconds.
Ellis' time (2:08.53) was only good for 24th overall in the event after the other heats, but he was still pleased with his performance in the event.
"I haven't done a lot of things in college that I did in high school, so it feels good to race again," Ellis said.
Ellis was just one of many swimmers who were thrust into different roles at this weekend's Orange Invitational in which Syracuse hosted Army and Marist at the Max Newman Pool at Nottingham High School. With the swimming results not counting toward the team's overall record for the season, the event allowed SU head coach Lou Walker to test his swimmers in different races. The diving events took place at the Ted Webster Pool in Archbold Gymnasium.
Despite the different lineups, the Syracuse men took first in 10 of 17 events while the women dominated, winning 15 of 17. The Orange failed to place in the top three in only three swimming events out of 34.
The Syracuse divers didn't register any first-place finishes, but Corey Psoinos took second in the men's one-meter competition.
Freestyle distance swimmers Natalie Mazzetta (four wins) and Alex Taraskin (three wins) paced the Orange in a meet designed to improve individual times. With multiple heats for each event, Syracuse head coach Lou Walker had some leeway with how to arrange his lineup, placing swimmers in events they don't normally swim.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Lynne Gollands
posted 10/22/07 @ 8:22 AM EST
Kudos to Heath Williams for his reporting at all 3 sessions this weekend, and with his sharing of the sportsmanship, and competitive essence of these teams, that, by definition, are "TRULY EXTRAORDINARY". (Continued…)
J.P. Mancini
posted 10/22/07 @ 2:44 PM EST
Too bad that the coach is "TRULY MEDIOCRE" and the program is "TRULY TOAST!"
Jeffrey P Corcoran
posted 10/22/07 @ 2:47 PM EST
Guess the only way to improve the football team is to suit up the swimmers next year.....
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