TEMPE, Ariz. September 25. ARIZONA State is facing a challenging season this year with the completion of its schedule.
In addition to the Pac-10 conference schedule, the swimming and diving teams have a few difficult non-conference meets as well. The Sun Devils begin their season in Honolulu, facing the University of Hawaii. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils open their home schedule with a meet against UC Santa Barbara on October 28 and a tri-meet with UCSB and Penn State on October 29. Additionally, the ASU swimmers will be tested in the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas from December 1-3 while the diving team travels to Columbus, Ohio for the Buckeye Invitational during the same weekend.
"This is probably the best schedule that we will race against since I've been here," said head coach Michael Chasson, who is in his eighth year at the helm of the swim program. "It will be a good test for our squad and give our student-athletes a good racing experience."
For the Sun Devils, several standout student-athletes who earned accolades last season return to form an experience-laden roster. Chasson’s swimming squad returns seven All-Americans from last year, including seniors Kathryn Hennessy and Erin Baldinger and sophomore Caitlyn Andrew. The men’s squad is highlighted by 13 returning letter winners, including sophomores Lucas Azevedo and C.J. Nuess and senior David Kolozar.
For Mark Bradshaw and the diving team, four-time NCAA champion Joona Puhakka returns for his senior year of competition, in search of his school-record fifth national title. Junior Cassidy Farwell returns to the women’s diving team after participating in the 2005 USA Nationals on the platform.
The 2005-06 swimming and diving season begins October 1, with the annual Alumni meet and the yearly pentathlon will follow the next weekend on Oct. 8. ASU’s first official meet will be Oct. 21 at the University of Hawaii.