March 21, 2001

COLUMBIA, Mo.- University of Missouri sophomore MATT FERRARELLI begins competition at the 2001 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships this Thursday afternoon at the Student Recreation Center Natatorium in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A&M University. Ferrarelli, a sophomore from Retford Knotts, England, won the the 400 individual medley at the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships two weeks ago in Austin, Texas to earn a spot at the NCAA Championships. His victory made him Missouri's first Big 12 Champion in school history.

Ferrarelli will compete in three events: the 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley and 200 backstroke. Ferrarelli finished fourth in both the 200 IM and 200 backstroke at the Big 12 Championships. He is the Missouri school record-holder in all three events.

Ferrarelli is the fourth MU men's swimmer under Head Coach BRIAN HOFFER to qualify for the NCAA Championships. ROGER ALVARENGA qualified in the 50 freestyle in 1995 and was joined by LANCE BOHLMAN in the 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle. MIKE TUCKER was a qualifier in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke in 1997. If Ferrarelli can finish in the top 16 in any of his three events, he will become Hoffer's first All-American.

FERRARELLI's SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, March 22: 200 Indvidual Medley Prelims: 12:00 p.m. Finals: 7:00 p.m.

Friday, March 23: 400 Individual Medley Prelims: 12:00 p.m. Finals: 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 24: 200 Backstroke Prelims: 12:00 p.m. Finals: 7:00 p.m.