Tar Heel Swimming & Diving Kicks Off Season Friday

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina men's and women's swimming and diving teams will kick off their 2017-18 season this Friday on the road when they take on a tough University of Georgia Bulldogs squad at 3 p.m. in the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga.

Now entering his 11th season as head coach for the Tar Heels, Rich DeSelm is optimistic about the chance to improve overall team performance in the upcoming season. "It has been a good start to the fall," says DeSelm. "I have high expectations for the year."

Based on the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America preseason Coaches' Poll, the Bulldogs enter the season with the fourth-ranked women's team and the seventh-ranked men's team in the country. Georgia got off to a quick start in its season opener last Wednesday against Emory where the Bulldogs' women's team won 40-21 and the men prevailed 38-23 in a relay-only competition.

This upcoming meet marks the third straight year that the Tar Heels have faced Georgia in their season opener. After falling to the Bulldogs for the past two years, Carolina looks to redeem themselves against their highly-regarded opponents.

"We know what we are going up against," DeSelm remarks. "At this point in the season, all bets are off, and it is about racing tough when you are tired from early season training. We are excited about going down to face their women. Their men are also one of the best teams in the country and rapidly improving."

Not only will the Tar Heels have to overcome a fierce competitor in the Bulldogs, but also the team will need to compensate for the loss of a significant number of senior teammates following the 2016-17 season. The Tar Heels were a senior-laden team last year so if Carolina is to improve in 2017-18 youthful competitors will need to step up.

To do so, DeSelm looks to his captains -- seniors Caroline Baldwin and Emily Slabe for the women and seniors Philip Perdue and Michael McBryan for the men. DeSelm explains, "They're leaders on the team, they're leaders in the water and we have had a tradition of great senior leadership and captains so we are looking for that to continue."

DeSelm looks forward to big performances from the younger members of his men's team. This summer, first-year swimmer Chris Thames made a great first impression. "He went faster than any former UNC swimmer has gone in the 200-meter backstroke," DeSelm said excitedly. "We didn't let him get the school record because we make people enroll in school before we give them the record."

On the women's side, DeSelm sees great potential for success in senior co-captain Baldwin. "This summer she broke four of our school records for long course meters and she almost made the U.S. World Championships team and did make the World University games team and swam to a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle over in Taipei, Taiwan. She was part of a silver medal 400-meter medley relay and altogether won three medals at the competition."

The 2016 ACC Diving Coach of the Year Abel Sanchez is also excited for the upcoming season. "This is probably one of the strongest teams, especially on the men's side as a whole," says Sanchez. "On the women's side, I think this could be a good year. This will be a long season. We have an important dual meet coming this weekend right now but one of our future goals is December when we have our U.S. Nationals."

On the men's team, both DeSelm and Sanchez hope to see more success from freshman Greg Duncan who won the three-meter platform event at the U.S. Diving National Championships in August. Sanchez also expects Sean Burston, Bryan Allen, Devin Bellamy and Andrew Owsiany to make substantial contributions to the team's success.

The women's diving team also features some major talent such as 2016 ACC Diver of the Year Elissa Dawson, Maria Lohman and Qian Yi Pang. "Qian Yi Pang is going to be right there, hopefully this is going to be her year," says Sanchez.

Following another road competition against the University of South Carolina, the Tar Heels will host their first home meet on November 4 against Virginia Tech in the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium at noon. Admission is free.

On November 11, just one week after the home season opener, the Tar Heels are hoping for another huge crowd to cheer them on as they host the University of Texas Longhorns whose men's team holds the title of three-time reigning national champion. "We would love some support," both DeSelm and Sanchez commented. "We would love the student body and the general public to come to our home meets. The Texas men's and women's programs are perennial contenders for the national championship. We plan to step up and race them tough. We also know they are bringing a lot of firepower."

Live stats for this week's meet against Georgia will be made available through GoHeels.com shortly before the start of competition. The meet Friday will also be aired on SEC Network Plus and a link is currently on GoHeels.com for that webcast. Be sure to follow the Tar Heel swimmers and divers this Friday and throughout the season.

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Devin Bellamy

Michael McBryan

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Emily Slabe

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