University of North Carolina Athletics
Cedars History Report: Swimmers Dunk Virginia At Bowman Gray Pool
January 23, 2003 | Swimming & Diving
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January 28, 1984: Swimmers Dunk Virginia at Bowman Gray Pool
CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina's nationally-ranked swimmers had little trouble with highly-regarded Virginia, routing the Cavalier men and women at Bowman Gray Pool.
The Tar Heel women, ranked fifth in the country, swamped 15th-rated Virginia, 81-32. The men pounded the Cavaliers, 80-33. Carolina's men are rated as the number 16 team in the nation.
UNC's women topped NCAA qualifying times in four events. They included both relay teams. The 200-yard medley team of Sue Walsh, Jenny Strickland, Betsy Mitchell and Sue Scott finished in 1:46.62. The 800-freestyle relay team's time of 7:34.66 also set a pool record. Mitchell, Amy Pless, Martha McCann and Walsh swam on that unit.
Walsh again had an NCAA-qualifying time in the 200 backstroke (2:01.65), as did Strickland in the 200 breastroke (2:22.83).
Pless, McCann and Sarah Durstein each won two individual races. Pless won the 50 and 100 freestyles, McCann was first in the 200 freestyle and the 200 butterfly while Durstein captured the 1,000 and 500 freestyles.
Carolina finished first in 12 events, while Virginia could only win the optional diving.
The Tar Heel men won 10 of 13 events, including the optional diving.
Eric Ericson won the 200 backstroke and also led off both the winning relay teams. Joining Ericson on the 400 medley relay were Doug Sawyer, Dirk Marshall and Todd Deckman. Marshall also swam on the 400 free relay. Rounding out that team were Chris Stevenson and Geoff Cassell.
Sawyer, Stevenson and Cassell also won individual races. Sawyer was first in the 200 breastroke, Stevenson won the 1000 freestyle and Cassell had the best time in the 200 freestyle.
The Carolina women ran their record to 8-0, while men improved to 8-2. The men also remained unbeaten in Atlantic Coast Conference competition.
Rick Brewer is in his fourth decade with the University of North Carolina athletic department and brings a unique historical perspective to TarHeelBlue.com. A native of North Carolina, Brewer served as UNC's Sports Information Director from 1975 until his retirement from full-time work in 2000. Email Rick Brewer at rbrewer@uncaa.unc.edu.
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