Fresno State Athletics
Swimming and Diving Prepares for Oregon State
1/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 12, 2004
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Next Up: Oregon State (4-3) at Fresno State (2-4)
Date: Jan. 24
Time: 1 p.m.
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Facility: Clovis Olympic Swim Complex
On the Blocks
Fresno State gears up for its second and final home meet of the season Saturday, Jan. 24 against Oregon State at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex. The meet is scheduled to get under way at 1 p.m. Senior diver Lindsay Taunton will be honored prior to the meet. The Bulldogs will look to snap a three-meet losing streak to the Beavers dating back to the 2001 season including a 134-120 loss last year in Corvallis. Kristin Huston won three individual events and five other OSU swimmers earned first-place finishes. Senior All-American Birte Steven leads the nation in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:09.98 and is second in the 100 breast (1:00.64).
Janet Evans to Speak at Fundraiser for Swimming and Diving Program
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans will be the keynote speaker at a dinner fundraiser to benefit the Fresno State swimming and diving program Tuesday at Loy Loy Restaurant (Blackstone and Sierra). The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. United States Swimming president Ron van Pool will also be a guest of honor. One of the top female swimmers of all time, Evans won three gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, her first of three straight Olympic appearances. Evans accomplished the feat as a senior at El Dorado High School where she swam for Fresno State head coach Tom Milich. In Barcelona '92, she captured gold in the 800-meter freestyle and silver in the 400-meter freestyle. Evans currently holds three world records and six American marks. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at Swim Suits West (Blackstone and Herndon) or through the Fresno State swimming office. For more information contact assistant swim coach Libby Anderson at 278-7880 or via email at libby@applinc.com.
Nevada/Nebraska Recap
The Bulldogs were swept by Nevada and Nebraska in a double dual meet Friday at Lombardi Pool. Fresno State lost to the Wolf Pack 119-21 and dropped a 129-11 decision to the Huskers. Nebraska also defeated Nevada 75-65 to go 2-0 for the afternoon. Melissa Johnson accounted for the Bulldogs' two top-three finishes at the meet, touching the wall first in both the 50 (24.83) and 100 free (53.56). Johnson sports a team-leading eight top-three finishes for the 2003-04 campaign.
Veteran Leadership
Entering the season, Melissa Johnson was looked upon to help guide an underclassmen-laden squad this season and she has lived up to the billing. One of seven upperclassmen on this year's team, Johnson leads the team with eight top-three finishes including two wins against Nebraska and Nevada. Her times in the 50, 100 and 200 free lead the squad and is the third leg on the Bulldogs' top 200 free relay team. Johnson owns the third fastest time in school history in the 200 freestyle while swimming the Bulldogs' top times in the 100 and 200 free last season. The Vacaville, Calif., native paced the team with 25 top-three finishes including 14 first-place results last year. Palmberg and Kristin Leon assume the duty of team captains for a group that returns 64 top-three finishes from a year ago. The group has registered 29 top-three finishes through the first four meets this season. Diver Lindsay Taunton is the lone senior on the squad. Taunton recorded the team's highest finish at Cal Nov. 15, coming in second in the three-meter for her her first top-three finish of the season.
