Oct. 11, 1999
The University of Missouri men?s and women?s swimming and diving teams get their seasons under way on Friday, October 15, 1999 by hosting the Black and Gold Intersquad meet. The two teams will be split up to form a Black team and a Gold team. The two captains, Tawney Larm and Ryan Nevins will serve as the coaches for the two teams.
Media day is set for Tuesday, October 12 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at University Natatorium. Head coach Brian Hoffer along seven athletes will be available to the media during this time. List below are the athletes (with background infromation) that will be available to you.
Head Coach Brian Hoffer
Brian Hoffer is in his eighth season at the University of Missouri. He has developed the program into one that now demands respect within the conference as well as nationally. The 1998-99 Mizzou Tigers had successful seasons as the women defeated four nationally recognized programs and the men beat two top-25 teams in dual meet action. Not only did the swimmers preform well in the pool, but also out of the pool as 24 Tigers earned Academic All-Big 12 honors. The 1999 Missouri Academic Coach-of-the-Year has assembled yet another group of outstanding athletes ready to take the conference by storm.
Hoffer at Missouri: ? Two-time Big-Eight Coach-of-the-Year ? 122 Academic All-Conference Selections ? 86 New School Records ? Women?s record of 45-34/ 27-16 last four seasons ? Men?s record of 34-41/ 22-20 last four seasons
Senior Rikki Janes (Backstroke/Butterfly/IM)
Rikki Janes is the school record holder in the 200 back while also swimming a leg of the 200 and 400 medley relays that hold school records. The senior is ranked on MU?s All-Time Top-5 list in 8 different events. This all-around swimmer is a seven-time Big 12 finalist as well as a 1996 Saskatchewan Olympic Trials consolation finalist.
Senior Tawney Larm (Breaststroke, IM)
Tawney Larm is the most decorated athlete in the 30-year history of Missouri swimming and diving. The 1999-2000 women?s team captain, Larm and was a 1999 NCAA provisional qualifier in the 200 IM after earning All-Big 12 honors for her 3rd placeconference finish. Larm is the school record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, 200 and 400 individual medley?s and as a member of the medley relays. Larm also competed at the 1999 US summer senior nationals.
Senior Ryan Nevins (Backstroke/Butterfly)
Ryan Nevins in the 1999-2000 team captain for the men?s team. He has had a solid career for the Tigers swimming in every Tiger dual meet. At the December invitationals he has turned in numerous top-24 performances over the last three years.
Junior Kim Lambert (Freestyle/Breaststroke)
Kim Lambert is the school record holder in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and is currently ranked on MU?s All-Time top-5 list in five different events. Prior to this season, Lambert has been a Big 12 finalist 8 different times. She will be the Tiger?s ?Go-To? Sprinter this season.
Junior Aaron Lo (Breaststroke/ Sprint Freestyle)
Aaron Lo was MU?s number one man last season and will again be asked to step up big for the Tigers this season. Lo is ranked on MU?s All-Time top-5 list in seven different events and was an NCAA provisional qualifer in the 100 breaststroke in 1999. He was also the key to Mizzou?s win over KU last year winning 3 events.
Sophomore Tori Denlinger (Diving)
Tori Denlinger is the 1999-2000 women?s diving team captain. Denlinger is a talented diver who will be asked to step up and perform well this season after a strong freshman campaign. She finished in the top-25 at the conference meet in both the one-meter springboard and the three-meter springboard.
Freshman Jamie Sweeney (Diving)
James Sweeney is new to the Missouri program and will immediately impact the roster. Sweeney finished as the runner-up on the one-meter springboard at the Missouri state meet last season after finishing fourth during his junior campaign. The freshman is also a three-time conference champion.