Swimming and diving opens 2009 with a tri-meet


The Arizona State swimming and diving team will kick off 2009 by hosting Oregon State and Washington. The women (0-4) will compete against both the Beavers and the Huskies while the men (0-3) will only take on UW as Oregon State does not have a men's team.

Top 10
This season's Texas Invitational produced multiple top ASU times. Sean Boyle had a breakthrough weekend and is now second all-time in the 200 fly (1:44.98) and sixth (1:35.91) in the 200 free. Mohammed Madwa entered his name at No. 9 after clocking in a time of 20.05 in the 50 free. Max Laney earned his place at sixth in the 200 back on ASU's all-time list with a time 1:46.22.

On the women's side, Jen Beckberger improved to third all-time in the 100 free with a time of 49.11. Sasha Stephens carved her name at third in the 100 back with a time of 54.70. The freshman also tied for third in the 200 back at 1:58.22. Jamie Martinez is now second all-time in the 200 back with a time of 1:57.63. The San Jose, Calif., native is now ninth in the 400 IM too with a time of 4:19.98 and put herself at fourth all-time in the 100 back after clocking in a leadoff time of 54.78 in the 400 medley relay. Freshman Jordyn Green burst into the Sun Devil top 10 list in both the 100 and 200 breast. The Reno, Nev., native clocked in times of 1:01.83 and 2:12.48 to put herself at third and fourth in the 100 and 200 breast respectively. Ashton Aubry improved to second all-time in both the 100 and 200 fly. The junior from Leawood, Kan., earned times of 52.51 and 1:57.14 respectively. Penelope Yamauchi entered her name at ninth in the 200 IM with a time of 2:02.93.

Senioritis
Senior Boyle has already began to make a statement his senior year. The Lake Elsinore, Calif., native has already earned three NCAA consideration times. At the Texas Invitational, Boyle moved himself to second on ASU's all-time list with an NCAA consideration time of 1:44.98. He placed fourth in the event. Boyle also shattered his personal record in the 200 free to put him at sixth on ASU's all-time list at 1:35.91. Boyle also earned an NCAA consideration time in the 500 free with a time of 4:23.03.

Flying Aubry
Aubry picked up right where she left off last season. The 2008 NCAA qualifier is inching closer and closer to the 100 and 200 fly records. Aubry, who is currently second all-time in both events, is less than a second off Caitlin Andrew's 100 fly record and is about 30 tenths away from the 200 fly record.

Trio of Youngsters
Green, Sasha Stephens and Yamauchi have given the Sun Devils a burst of new energy. Green, who had qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, is now in the top five on ASU's all-time lists in both breaststroke events. Stephens is already second all-time in the 100 back and is third in the 200 back. Yamauchi, who is one of the team's most versatile swimmers, is now ninth in the 200 IM.

Pac-10 Tri-Champ Returns
After winning all three Pac-10 diving events last season, Micky Benedetti aims to repeat and to earn All-American honors in all three diving events. Although the divers have not seen much action in the fall season, Benedetti made the most of his competition by winning both the 1 and 3 meters at USC.

Ms. Versatile
Martinez, a junior from San Jose, Calif., is the women's team top all-around swimmer. Martinez has her name in five all-time lists: 100 and 200 back, 100 and 200 fly and 400 IM. The utility swimmer is about one second off the 200 back record.

Up Next:
The men will head to Dallas, Texas on January 16 for a dual against SMU before competing in the Dallas Morning News Classic. Both the men and the women will finish out their home season against Stanford and Cal on January 23 and 24.