by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information

1999-2000 Men's/Women's Swimming and Diving Review:
UMass Dartmouth's men's relay team earned top 25 finishes at New England championships

(Dartmouth, MA) - Two of UMass Dartmouth's men's swimming relay teams and one individual swimmer earned top 25 finishes in the annual New England Championships held Feb. 26, 2000 in Brunswick, ME. The Corsairs' participation the New Englands marked the end of Coach Cathy Motta's first season as head men's and women's swimming coach at UMass Dartmouth.

The Corsairs 400 medley relay team had UMass Dartmouth's best finish at the New England's, a 20th place in a time of 3:56.58. The same relay team placed 23rd in the 200 Free Relay with a time of 1:34.27. The UMass Dartmouth 400 and 200 Medley Relay teams consisted of exchange student Mike Schneider (Stuttgard, Germany), junior Nick Laliberte (Biddeford, ME), senior co-captain Andy Rogers (Natick, MA) and sophomore Jaren Hawxwell (W. Boxford, MA). In individual competition at the New Englands, Schneider turned in UMass Dartmouth best finish by taking 22nd place overall in the 50 Back with a time of :26.71.

Although they did not place in the New England championships, UMass Dartmouth had four other swimmers and divers qualify for the post season championships. In a Nov. 16, 1999 meet against Bridgewater State College, diver Jeff Garza (Groton, MA) qualified for the New Englands in both the 1 meter and 3 meter events. The Corsairs' junior co-captain took first place in both diving events, scoring 214.45 points at 1 meter and 179 points at 3 meters.

Also competing against Bridgwater State that day, three members of the UMass Dartmouth women's swimming and diving team earned post-season qualifications. With a first-place finish in the 100 Free (:57.96), junior co-captains Mary MacGregor (Bridgewater, MA) qualified for New Englands, while fellow junior co-captain Antonio Cardoza's (New Bedford, MA) winning time of 5:40.93 in the 500 Free was a qualifying time as well. First-year diver Danielle Petrone (Attleboro, MA) captured the 3 meter diving event and also earned a qualification in the New Englands.

As a first-year head coach for the Corsairs, Motta picked up her first career victories with the men and women within three days of each other. The Corsair women gave Motta her first career win with a 155-101 victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In the very next men's meet, against Wheaton College on Jan 18, the Corsair men produced Motta's second victory and first with the men's team, a 121-95 victory.

Joining Motta during her first season as head coach were assistants Dave Beard and Nancy Kitchen. Jerry Jennings served as head diving coach for both men and women.