Spring Break
SWIMMING: Judges get two eighth-place finishes at ECACs
by Ian Cutler
Sports Editor
Sports | 3/4/08
Posted online at 3:56 AM EST on 3/4/08
/ Last updated at 3:07 PM EST on 3/4/08
Right before the final event of the 2008 Eastern College Athletic Conference swimming and diving championships in Pittsburgh, Pa. last Sunday, coach Jim Zotz gathered his 400-yard men's freestyle relay team for words of encouragement after the group came off a strong individual performance in the University Athletic Association Championships the previous weekend.
"I didn't think the qualifying times would be as fast as they were, so I told [the relay team] before the race, if you could repeat what you guys did at UAAs, you have a real shot to finish in the top eight," Zotz said.
The squad of James Liu '10, Jon Eskow '08, Mike Rubin '09 and Nick Rice '08 did just that, finishing in eighth place in 3 minutes, 12.90 seconds. The Judges' total of 32 points placed them 20th overall and second among Division III squads at the three-day tournament.
"It was definitely my best race of the weekend," captain Jon Eskow '08 said. "Being senior and being captain of the team, it's just been a long four years but [it's] really good to end like this. I'm really proud to leave the team where it is today."
Brandeis also reached the final round in the men's 800- and 200-yard freestyle relays, in which it placed 16th and 13th, respectively, and the women's 200-yard breaststroke, in which Hollis Viray '10 placed eighth.
The 400-yard freestyle relay squad's preliminary time of 3:13.68 was barely enough to qualify for the final round, and though the squad finished in last place among the eight finalists, players were happy with the finish.
"I've always liked competing in the relay, it's the last event, everyone gets really excited for it, and it was my last race [as a senior] and to get to anchor it was fun," Rice said. "I definitely swam differently knowing it was my last race. You really get up for it."
Viray also reached the final eight in her event after finishing in seventh place in the preliminary round in 2:29.43.
"I didn't think the qualifying times would be as fast as they were, so I told [the relay team] before the race, if you could repeat what you guys did at UAAs, you have a real shot to finish in the top eight," Zotz said.
The squad of James Liu '10, Jon Eskow '08, Mike Rubin '09 and Nick Rice '08 did just that, finishing in eighth place in 3 minutes, 12.90 seconds. The Judges' total of 32 points placed them 20th overall and second among Division III squads at the three-day tournament.
"It was definitely my best race of the weekend," captain Jon Eskow '08 said. "Being senior and being captain of the team, it's just been a long four years but [it's] really good to end like this. I'm really proud to leave the team where it is today."
Brandeis also reached the final round in the men's 800- and 200-yard freestyle relays, in which it placed 16th and 13th, respectively, and the women's 200-yard breaststroke, in which Hollis Viray '10 placed eighth.
The 400-yard freestyle relay squad's preliminary time of 3:13.68 was barely enough to qualify for the final round, and though the squad finished in last place among the eight finalists, players were happy with the finish.
"I've always liked competing in the relay, it's the last event, everyone gets really excited for it, and it was my last race [as a senior] and to get to anchor it was fun," Rice said. "I definitely swam differently knowing it was my last race. You really get up for it."
Viray also reached the final eight in her event after finishing in seventh place in the preliminary round in 2:29.43.
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