Two Lady'Backs Make NCAA Cuts Team in Third

COLLEGE STATION, Texas-After day one of competition, Friday, at the Aggie Invitational in College Station, Texas, the University of Arkansas swimming and diving team is in third place, with 137 points, trailing Southern Methodist University,443 points, and meet host, Texas A&M, 379 points. Individually, two Lady Razorbacks qualified for NCAA ‘B’ cuts. Seniors Zsuzsa Csobanki and Whitney Lynn swam season best times in the 50 (23.30) and 500 (4:51.00) freestyle races, respectively. Competition continues Saturday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Head coach Anne Goodman James said she was pleased with her team’s performance after the first round of competition especially with the seniors leading the charge.

“We had a pretty solid day with good performances all around,” Goodman James said. “We are especially excited about the two NCAA cuts by Whitney (Lynn) in the 500 and Zsuzsa (Csobanki) in the 50. Both went the best in season times of their careers.”

Csobanki finished fifth in the final of the 50 free while Lynn took fourth place in the 500 free. Lynn’s finish marks the first time this season that she has not won the event.

Arkansas had individuals in every event final on day one of the meet including sophomore Mariann Fulop, who finished eighth in the 200 IM. Fulop’s performance was a season best.

Goodman James said she was happy with the Arkansas squad after day one and is hopeful that the younger Lady’Backs follow in the seniors footsteps and qualify for the postseason.

“Mariann Fulop had a great 200 IM,” Goodman James said. “We’re excited to watch for great things from her in the rest of the meet.”

In the 200-free relay, the team of Csobanki, Fulop, freshmen Emily Gregory and Katie Borkovec finished fifth with a season best time of 1:37.18. In the diving competition, freshman Hilarie Wilson snagged seventh place on the one-meter springboard while freshman Brieanne Kushner followed with an eighth-place finish.

For more information on Arkansas swimming and diving, log on to www.ladybacks.com.