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Show Page Openings C-- 8 1989 Sv7E.IT.IING U. swimming By Loren Jorgensen Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor Last March, the University of Utah's men's swimming team won the WAC championship. Again. Winning conference titles is nothing new for Ute Coach Don Reddish. In fact, Utah has been the league champion 16 times in WAC's 26 the year existence including the past three seasons. Reddish, who has coached swimming and diving at the U. for almost 42 years, would like nothing better than to lead the Utes to their fourth straight title. However, that won't be an easy task according to the Ute mentor. "We're going to have a competitive team this year," Reddish said. "I think it the team very strong eligibility last season. One swimmer who Reddish didn't expect to have to replace Lundbladh, a native of Sweden, who is serving his was Per-ol- a mandatory year in his nation's army this year. "That's the one 4 v can win it. But the best I can say this year is that we'll be competitive." Reddish said that there are two reasons that he doesn't know how his team will fare in the conference race. First, the Utes lost some talented swimmers to graduation and the Swedish Army (of all places). And secondly, he doesn'f know what to expect from the competition. The biggest loss to graduation was outstanding freestyler Anders Bladh, who won two individual championships at the WAC meet as well as swimming on four conference champion relay teams. "Anders is gone and that's half the team," Reddish joked. In addition, WAC 200 backstroke team champ Marc Fraser-Bel- l, UMD it schedule will include Arizona State, UNLV and Washington. But I while the dual meets will be important, Reddish said that the team will really be gearing up for the conference and NCAA championship. "Swimming is an interesting sport in that you pick up all the marbles in that one meet the WAC Championships" conference will be closer with a group of teams bunched together. Most years, like last year, I'll come right out and tell you we Hunnington Beach, Ca. He is an individual medley and breasts troke specialist Scott Teerlink, the other new face this season, has been a Ute before. The Salt Lake native was a WAC champion diver for the Utes prior to going on an LDS church mission. "The one thing we don't have this year is the balance we had last year," Reddish said. "We're very strong in the butterfly and the backstrokes. We've got a lot of depth in those areas. The problem is we're short of freestylers." The season will begin in November. Utah's nonconference captain Brooks McCartney and diver Jon Atzet finished their Reddish said. "This season, all of our emphasis will be on the NCAA and conference Don Reddish that really hurts," Reddish said of Lundbladh's departure. Still, the cupboard is far from bare for the Utes. Returning is Arne Miles, a junior who won both the 200 and 400 yard championships." As far accessing the other teams . in the WAC, Reddish doesn't know which is the team to beat. "We really don't know what the other teams have," Reddish said. "As far as returning people, I'd say Hawaii and BYU will be Individual Medley conference titles, as well as sophomores Jim Giottonini, who placed first in the 200 butterfly and second in the 100 backstroke and Sal strong, and New Mexico is a possibility. The thing about Hawaii is that they can pick up people all through the Pacific Castro, the 100 butterfly champ. Reddish is also high on Warwick Mortensen, who finished second to Bladh in the 100 freestyle, Peter Axelson and Danny O'very. Divers Kort Borg and Bret Petterson are back as well. The Utes will feature a pair of newcomers which Reddish feels that we don't even know about. BYU is also able to do more worldwide recruiting, so it's hard to know what they'll have. " One thing Reddish does know about is winning. The Ute swimming program has a winning tradition which may lead the team to the 1990 WAC will step right in and help the team. John Wester is a high school Ail-Americ- title next March swimmer from an (M once again. Lady Ute swimming team to battle for conference By are holders of school relay records, Doman in the 200 and Steven IL Ford 400 Freestyle Relays and Leeper in the 200 Medley Relay. Joining the Lady Utes this season will be a group of local girls from around the valley. Lisa Wood from Skyline High School, Tracie Mills from Chronicle Sports Writer Head Coach Jim Wilson will be entering his third year at the helm of the women's swimming team this year, a position which Hillcrest High School, and may portend his team's final Melyada Scott from Uintah High School will all be expected to conference finish. Last year, the Lady Ute swimrning team finished third in the conference behind Colorado State and BYU, and that doesn't appear to be a situation which will change this season. CSU won the Conference team title going away, with 183 points separating them from the second place Brigham Young Cougars. Utah was following closely on the Cougars' heels, just 86 points behind. However, both CSU and BYU appear to have had a fantastic contribute to the effort This year's team seems to be very strong in the intermediate and long distance freestyle and breastroke events. "In the distance free, we were the strongest team in the conference last year, and I don't see that changing," Wilson said. The Utes are also very deep in the breaststroke events. At last year's conference meet, Utah placed three swimmers in the top six of the 200 breaststroke, and of those, all are returnees. The team may be a bit lean in the backstroke events, though. The Lady Utes lost one backstroker to graduation, and the top returnee for the team, Jenny Speth, finished sixth at the conference meet. "We'll, recruiting year, and will probably cement their positions at the top of the High Country Athletic Conference. The Utes, though bringing in some good talent, did not produce the same kind of recruiting coupe. Utah, then, will be in a battle with Wyoming, another much-improve- not be taking the odds lying down, though, Wil$on TJtes will intends to start a charge for contention. The team will be lead by a bevy of top returnees as Karen sophomores Butch elder, Julie Etherington, and Kathy Pierce, junior Kathy Doman, and senior Julie Leeper. Both Leeper and Doman are excellent swimmers, and both BOWLDIrl naturally, try to score more d for the conference's third place slot Coach Wilson and the Lady team, , points in our strong events to offset our weaknesses, Coach Wilson said. The Utes will be able to test the Coach Wilson's strategy as soon as .they open the season. As soon as" the team hits the water this year, they will be under the gun, courtesy of their first scheduled opponent. The opening day acid test will come Nov, 10, as they open the season against the second ranked BYU Homecoming LEAGUES NOW FORMING Enjoy a game on us! Bring this ad to the Union Bowling Center for a free game. Call for open play times 581-744- 0. Whether you enjoy a game with friends, student Intramural leagues or want to meet some new folks and polish your game in a class, the Union lanes is the place to be this fall. 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