TicketsOct. 22, 2009
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati Swimming & Diving squads will open up the 2009-10 season Friday by playing host to the Crosstown Splashdown against Xavier at the Keating Aquatic Center.
The divers will be up first at 3:30 followed by swimming events at 5 p.m. Admission to the meet is free.
In between the diving and swimming, the pool will feature a United States Masters meet at 4:15 p.m. Masters competitors range in age groups from 25-100 and over and must be registered with USMS.
On Saturday, the Bearcats will welcome back former letterwinners and teammates for the annual Alumni Swimming Meet also at Keating.
The meet begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by the UC football game against Lousville at 3:30 p.m.
The team's are led this season by a pair of seniors, Elinore de Jong and Josh Schneider.
De Jong was one of five UC student-athletes to win 2008-09 BIG EAST Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards, which recognize academic and athletic achievement as well as community service.
She tallied a pair of NCAA 'B' times in the 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly, as well as a school record in the 100 freestyle, earning the women's Ann & Clem Buenger Most Valuable Swimmer honor, as well as the team's Championship Performance Award. She placed second in the 100 butterfly at the BIG EAST Championships, earning all-league honors, and was involved in setting six school records during the 2009 season. She was also named an honorable mention Scholar All-American by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.
Schneider was an honorable mention all-America selection in the 50 freestyle for the second-straight season. He qualified for three events at the NCAA meet, and was also selected as a CSCAA First-Team Academic All-American. Schneider was named the BIG EAST's Most Outstanding Men's Swimmer at the league championship meet in February after winning three individual championships while setting UC and BIG EAST records in each event. He swam in 22 dual meet races in 2008, winning 15 and placing second seven times.