Butler Swimming Teams Prepare For Busy Weekend of Competition

Jan. 28, 2003

CROSSTOWN RIVALRY: The Butler men's and women's swimming teams will take on crosstown rival IUPUI on Friday the IUPUI Natatorium beginning at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will then host Xavier and Saint Louis at the Natatorium on Saturday (Feb. 1), with the meet time starting at 6 p.m. That is the final meet for Butler until the Horizon League Championships, which are hosted by Cleveland State (Feb. 25-Mar. 1).

LAST TIME OUT: The Butler women's swimming team placed sixth at UW-Milwaukee's Bill Ritter Invitational over the weekend, finishing with 233 points. The host Panthers placed first with 872 points, followed by UW-Green Bay (858.50), Illinois State (682.50), Northern Iowa (561) and UIC (473). Marquette rounded out the pack with 35 total points. On the men's side, the Bulldogs placed fourth with 178 points. UW-Green Bay took top honors with 1103.50 points, followed by UW-Milwaukee (932) and UIC (830.5). Marquette finished fifth with 120 points.

QUOTING ELLIS: "This was a chance for my swimmers to see what really we are up against in the Horizon League," said head coach Nichole Ellis. This meet is one of the hardest meets of the year, but it was beneficial because I got a great feel for what we need to do in order to be successful in the conference championships at the end of February. I was pleased to see how well we competed in the short stroke events.It is just shows what hard work, good heads, and a team goal can do."

TOP DOG: Sophomore Jesse Levknecht was Butler's top finisher at the UW-Milwaukee Bill Ritter Invitational over the past weekend. Levknecht placed second in the 100 Butterfly in a time of 1:01.46. The Grand Rapids, Mich. native also captured two other "Top Five" finishes, placing fourth in the 200 Fly in a time of 2:16.64 and fifth in the 100 Backstroke in a time of 1:02.53.

RACING TO THE FINISH: Carlton Racette captured a second place finish in the 400 IM at the Bill Ritter Invitational, touching the wall in a time of 4:20.91. Racette also placed in the Top Ten in the 200 Fly, as his time of 2:04.76 earned him a seventh-place finish.

COUNT ON CATIE: Junior Catie Scott also turned in a pair of Top Five performances at the Bill Ritter Invitational. Scott finished fourth in the 100 Freestyle in a time of 55.40 and placed fifth in the 200 IM in a time of 2:17.48.

OTHER NOTABLES: The Butler women's 200 Medley Relay team placed fifth at the Bill Ritter Invitational, in a time of 1:56.46...the team is comprised of Jesse Levknecht, Amber Gault, Cherri Mosher and Catie Scott ... Gault placed eighth in the 200 Butterly (2:17.88) and tenth in the 100 Breaststroke in a time of 1:12.95... Brendan Van Cleve placed seventh in the 100 Backstroke in a time of 57.13... he finished in eighth place in the 200 Backstroke in a time of 2:03.15 and his 5:08.59 finish in the 500 Freestyle earned him a ninth place finish.