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Men's Swimming & Diving
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Homecoming Brings Swimming Alumni Back To Ute Natatorium
9/30/2008 12:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Sept. 30, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY -Homecoming over the weekend brings alumni from all over the world back to the University of Utah. Most come to see old friends, relive memories and tailgate at the football game, but the alumni of Utah's swimming and diving team, though, came to swim.
For the first time under second-year head coach Greg Winslow, the Ute Natatorium hosted an Alumni Swim meet. With over 50 alumni on hand, some of which had personally set records at the University of Utah, the competition over bragging rights was fierce. "I'm just trying to live up to expectations," said Evan Castro.
Castro, who graduated in 2007, currently holds the university record in the 100-meter breaststroke. Castro and fellow graduate, Jonathan Larsen, traveled from California for the event. Larsen, also a University of Utah record holder, just finished competing at the Olympic Trials this summer.
"I'm having a blast," Larsen said. "This is everything I wanted it to be. I wish they did this once a month." Larsen and Castro weren't the only ones that traveled far for the competition. Heidi Hausknecht made the trip from Minnesota.
Hausknecht currently holds the school record in the 100-meter freestyle event and recently had her record in the 100-meter butterfly record broken by current swimmer Jen Fredsall. When asked how it felt to see her record fall, Hausknecht said, "Records are meant to be broken. It had a good run of five or six years. I can't complain too much." Hausknecht was not the one the traveled the farthest though. Matan Ratz traveled all the way from Israel to compete Saturday. Ratz, Eric Jorgenson, Jorge Amorim and Matt Bailey all suited up and swam in the medley relay.
Jorgenson, who currently lives in Salt Lake City, said he hadn't swam competitively since he graduated in 2006.
As Bailey put it, "It's fun to see so many of the old guys still in shape." The meet ended with "the alumni coming back to show Utah how to race," as Winslow put it.
With the weekend behind them, Utah's men's and women's swimming and diving team look forward to the first meet of the season against Washington and Boise State, Friday and Saturday. Washington's women finished 12th at the NCAA Championship last year, making them a tough competitor. Action starts Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Boise, Idaho.
Players Mentioned
Breaststroke/Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
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