Dec. 2, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. -

The Big 12 Conference announced that senior Matt Ferrarelli was selected as the male swimmer of the month for November. The selections were made by a vote of the league's head swimming and diving coaches.

Ferrarelli's selection was based on his performance at the Minnesota Invitational during the weekend of November 22-24. In helping the Tigers to a fourth finish at the 14 team invite, Ferrarelli won the 200 (1:49.74) and the 400 (3:52.94) individual medleys. Both of the Retford Nottinghamshire, England native times in those events were NCAA Championship provisional qualifying times. His time in the 200 individual medley was the fastest time in the country this season and his 400 individual medley time was the third fastest in the country.

Ferrarelli also picked up a second place finish in the 200 backstroke (1:49.39), a seventh place as the lead leg of the 400 medley relay team (3:25.40), a tenth place as the anchor leg in the 400 freestyle relay team (3:11.31) and a eleventh in the 100 backstroke (51.23).

This is the second time Ferrarelli has won Swimmer of the Month honors. Last season Ferrarelli was named Co-Big 12 Swimmer of the Month for January.

He is the second Tiger to win this honor this season. Teammate Radu Miclaus was named the October Swimmer of the Month. Ferrarelli is the fourth Tiger this season to be named either Swimmer or Diver of the Month. Evan Watters was named October Diver of the Month and Andrea Nigh was named October Swimmer of the Month for the women's team.

Ferrarelli and the men's swimming and diving team will return to action this weekend, December 7. The Tigers (3-1 in dual meets this season) travel to Lexington, Kentucky to take on SEC powerhouse the University of Kentucky Wildcats in a non-conference dual meet.