Jan. 11, 2001
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HOFFER SEEKS 100th CAREER VICTORY IN DOUBLE-DUAL IN KIRKSVILLE
Missouri Head Swimming and Diving Coach BRIAN HOFFER will seek the 100th career victory of his coaching career this Saturday when his Missouri Tigers face-off against Truman State University and the University of Northern Iowa in a double-dual meet in Kirksville, Mo. The first race begins at 1:00 p.m.
Hoffer enters Saturday's meet with a career coaching record (men and women combined) of 98-81. Both the Mizzou men and women are coming off of dual meet losses this past weekend in Tempe, Ariz. The University of Wyoming knocked off the Missouri women by a score of 145-98. The Cowboys defeated the men by a count of 125-117.
Northern Iowa enters Saturday's meet with a 3-6 women's record and a 1-8 dual record for the men. Both teams dropped dual meets to MU foe Iowa State on Dec. 6. The Cyclones defeated the the UNI women, 139-77 while the UNI men fell 145-90.
Truman State's women are 2-1 in dual competition this season, and have won two open meets. They are coming off a 107-98 loss at Florida State last Saturday. The TSU men have yet to win a dual (0-3), but own an open victory and two have finished second in two other open meets. The Truman State men also dropped a meet at Florida State last Saturday, 110-87.
TIGERS GETTING BACK TO FULL STRENGTH HEADING INTO SECOND SEMESTER
The Missouri Tigers fought through injury and illness during the first semester, but things seemed to really come to together when they last competed at the Arkansas Invite during the first week of December. The men's team took down Drury College in Arkansas and posted several of the top times in the country. The women did the same to four other schools in the field in Arkansas and also put themselves on the brink of a possible top-25 appearance.
The men will welcome the return of captain AARON LO and top diver JAMIE SWEENEY to full strength. Lo, who missed the Northwestern Invite with mononucleosis, made a triumphant return in Arkansas and posted season's best times in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
Sweeney returns to the diving board this semester after missing the second half of the Northwestern Invite and all of the Arkansas Invite with a shoulder injury.
FERRARELLI HOPES TO KEEP ON ROLLING
Sophomore MATT FERRARELLI had a semester to remember, and the Tigers hope that the first two months of the season are only the tip of the iceberg.
Ferrarelli enters the second half of the season nationally-ranked in three events. He is currently ranked second in the nation in the 400 individually medley with a time of 3:50.69. He is ranked seventh in the 200 IM (1:49.30) and 14th nationally in the 200 backstroke (1:47.62).
Ferrarelli was named the Big 12 Male Swimmer of the Month for November and December. He has won every dual meet race he has been entered in so far this season, and has failed to finish in first place in just four events.
NATIONALLY-RANKED TIGERS
Matt Ferrarelli is not the only Tiger swimmer in the national rankings. According to Taper and Shave Magazine's College Quick 25, Missouri is ranked nationally in seven events.
Besides Ferrarelli, fellow sophomore RADU MICLAUS is ranked 18th in the country in the 200 butterfly. Miclaus' top time is 1:48.33.
Three Missouri relays are currently ranked. The men's 200 medley relay is ranked 17th in the country. The team of Ferrarelli, Lo, SHANE WHILDIN and MIKE CERVENKA posted a time of 1:31.41 at the Arkansas Invite.
Two of the Tigers' women's relays are also ranked. Mizzou's 200 freestyle relay team consisting of JEANNA WILLI, ANDREA NIGH, TARA BROOKS and KIM LAMBERT own the 14th fastest time in the country. Nigh and Lambert join ELLEN CROSS and KARA BRAMER as the 16th fastest 400 freestyle relay team in the country. They posted a time of 3:26.65 at the Arkansas Invite.
TIGERS PREPARE FOR A BUSY JANUARY
Last Saturday's meet with Wyoming tipped off what will be a busy January for the Missouri Tigers. This Saturday, both the men and women travel to Kirksville, Mo. for a double-dual meet with Truman State and Northern Iowa.
The following weekend is a big one at Ol' Mizzou. The Tigers will complete their home schedule with a Friday evening dual with Big 12 foe Iowa State, followed by a Saturday afternoon meeting with Southwest Missouri State.
The Missouri women will have a busy final weekend of January when they travel to the University of Iowa for a Friday night meet with the Hawkeyes before hopping the bus and heading across the heartland to Lincoln, Neb. The women will meet the Mizzou men in Lincoln as both teams will face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a Big 12 dual.
HOFFER HAS HIS PROGRAM HITTING 100
The number 100 has become a milestone number for Hoffer's program. Last season, the Mizzou men and women eclipsed the 100-plateau in school records broken in Hoffer's eight seasons. The men and women are just a combined two dual wins away from giving Hoffer 100 victories for his career. His overall record stands at 98-81 (56-37 women, 42-44 men).
The Tigers have also achieved in the classroom under Hoffer. Missouri has had 132 athletes selected to the Academic All-Conference teams over the last eight seasons.
TIGERS ARE A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Four seniors, KIM LAMBERT, JEANNA WILLI, KARA BRAMER and KRISTY WANNER will play major rolls this season for the Missouri women. The rest of the contributors are all underclassmen. Twelve of Missouri's 20 swimmers are freshmen or sophomores.
The Mizzou men are in the same boat. Only seven of the Tigers 22 athletes are juniors and seniors.
FOUR TALENTED SWIMMERS SIGN LETTERS OF INTENT
The Missouri Tigers signed two women and two men to letters of intent in the early signing period. Highlighting the recruiting class as of date is St. Louis native REBECCA DAWSON. A product of the Rockwood Swim Club which has produced several Mizzou swimmers, Dawson is the defending state champion in the 100 butterfly and the runner up in the 200 individual medley. Dawson is regarded as one of the top swimmers in the state of Missouri.
Dawson will be joined by Tempe, Ariz. native LINDSAY PALBYKIN. Palbykin is the defending Arizona state champion in the 200 freestyle and a top-three finisher in the 100 free. She has only been swimming for three years.
On the men's side, the Tigers feel that they have found a diamond in the rough in Champaign, Ill. product RYAN SEARBY. An all-state football player, Searby will give up the helmet for goggles full-time as he is expected to help Missouri in the sprint free events.
Joining Searby is JOSH BOYD of Greenville, S.C. Boyd is a talented distance swimmer who along with current Tigers DANE PEDERSEN and STEPHEN DURLEY, will give the Tigers one of the deepest distance teams in the Big 12.