University of Tennessee Athletics
Aqua Vols in 10th after Day 1 of NCAAs
March 27, 2008 | Men's Swimming & Diving
The seventh-ranked Tennessee swimming and diving team concluded day one of the NCAA championships in 10th-place on Thursday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, Wash. The Vols finished with 54 points.
???We have a team of very happy Tennessee Volunteers after a successful first day,??? UT head coach John Trembley said. ???There were some outstanding performances. Our relays tonight were especially spectacular. It is the first time in seven years that the we have had both day one relays in the A final.?????
In the 200 freestyle relay, Nolan Morrell, Jonas Persson, Octavio Alesi and Barry Murphy swam to a fifth-place finish in 1:17.72. Their time ranks second in UT swimming history. The 400 medley relay, consisting of Michael Wolfe, Murphy, Alesi and Persson, earned sixth-place in 3:08.26. Their time too ranks second on UT all-time leader boards.????
During those relays, individual Vols put up some impressive numbers. Murphy???s 50 freestyle leg in the 200 freestyle was 18.9 which is the fastest in UT history. No other Volunteer has ever swam a sub-19 50 freestyle. Morrell swam a 19.87 leg which ties him for 11th all time at UT.????
Persson swam a 41.4 100 freestyle leg in the 400 medley which is also the fastest time in UT history. He also clocked in with the fastest leg on the night among the finalists. Murphy???s 52.6 100 breaststroke split in the event was a lifetime best.??
After day one, Arizona leads the competition with 137 points. Texas is second (116) and California is third (112). Five-time defending national champions Auburn ended the night in fourth (97). Florida leads the Vols just by one point in ninth. Minnesota sits just behind them in 10th with 50 points.????
???It???s a close match between ourselves, Indiana, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota,??? Trembley said. ???We???re excited to be in the mix because it has been a great competition. We have many races tomorrow and we???re looking forward to starting. Enthusiasm and optimism is certainly permeating the group.???
The preliminaries begin Friday at noon and will be followed by the finals at 7 p.m. (Pacific Time Zone).??
