Panthers enjoy Big East success

Pitt’s swimming and diving teams splashed their way to success this weekend with a bevy of… Pitt’s swimming and diving teams splashed their way to success this weekend with a bevy of awards and personal bests at the Big East Championships in East Meadow, N.Y.

The men’s team finished second while the women’s team came in third in the overall competition, combining for 29 All-Big East awards.

Sophomores Kristin Caiazzo and Jeremy Stultz collected Most Outstanding Diver honors. Caiazzo finished first in the 3-meter event while Stultz won both the 1- and 3-meter competitions.

Freshman Aleksandr Volovetski also performed well, winning men’s platform diving while taking second in both the 1- and 3-meter diving events.

“They were sharp and prepared for their events,” coach Chuck Knoles said. “[Diving coach] Julian Krug really gets them motivated and ready to compete. I can’t say enough about their coaching and preparation.”

Men’s senior swimmers Tommy Bird, Darryl Washington and Jason Miller led their team with six All-Big East honors.

Junior Jeff Leath took the 200-yard backstroke title, his second in three years. He clocked a personal best of 1:46.68.

Sophomore Chris George also raced well, finishing second in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a personal best of 15:22.96. He also received All-Big East honors.

Of the 19 All-Big East awards given to Pitt, eight individual honors went to underclassmen.

“We are really pleased with the performances of our young competitors,” Knoles said. “They stood up to the challenge and performed very well.”

The women’s team took 11 All-Big East honors – five in team relays and six in individual competition.

Senior sprinter Jordan Wallace finished second in the 100-yard freestyle while taking third in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.

Junior Kristin Brown took first in the 200-yard freestyle while earning All-Big East honors.

The 400-meter freestyle relay team – featuring Brown, Wallace, freshman Stacie Safritt and senior Kelly Redcay – set a school record with a 3:21.31 finish.

“This performance was one of the best I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Knoles said. “The program is definitely headed in the right direction. We are really excited about our finish at the Big East Championships.”

Safritt broke the Pitt rookie freestyle record with a 51.37 time, surpassing the record set by Brown in 2004.

Despite all the success during the weekend, there was one disappointment to Knoles.

He thought diving coach Krug should have won the Big East Diving Coach of the Year award.

“He is just so good at preparing our divers,” Knoles said. “He really should have taken the award.”

A season that began with the Blue/Gold Intrasquad Meet at Trees Hall on Oct. 24 wraps up with the ECAC Championships on Thursday.

The meet will be at Trees Hall, but coach Knoles doesn’t see it putting too much weight on his team.

“We will relax at the ECACs,” Knoles said. “That meet is a lot more relaxed and calm than the Big East Championships, so we will take it easy.”

After the ECAC Championships, the swimming postseason frenzy picks up. March holds the NCAA Zone Diving meets – March 9-11 – as well as both the men’s and women’s NCAA championships – March 16-25.