Billikens Wrap Up 2007-08 Campaign
March 27, 2008
LAST TIME OUT: The Saint Louis men (19-4) finished in eighth place at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Conference Swimming and Diving Championships with 257 points, and the Billiken women (19-3-1) placed ninth with 214 points. Brad Byars (Marion, Ill. / Marion) was the lone medalist for SLU as he beat the competition in the 100 free (45.27) with a school record-tying performance. COACH Jim Halliburton: Billiken head coach Jim Halliburton completed his seventh season at the helm of the Billiken swimming and diving program. His men's and women's teams have amassed a 200-58-1 dual-meet record during his tenure. His staff is comprised of diving coach Greg Triefenbach and assistant coaches Meredith Kiersznowski, Dave Stevens, Clay Gasparovich and Jessen Wabeke. RECAPPING THE RESULTS: The Billikens' top finishers at the 2008 A-10 Championships were Justin Breithaupt (Swansea, Ill. / Belleville East), Brad Byars, Michael Dahle (St. Louis, Mo. / Lindbergh), Anna Larson (St. Charles, Mo. / Francis Howell), Kevin Parker (Germantown, Tenn. / Christian Brothers), Elena Ramirez (Champaign, Ill. / St. Thomas More) and Emily Walter (Indian Head Park, Ill. / Lyons Township). Byars won the 100 free (20.92), placed second in the 50 free (20.92) and finished eighth in the 100 fly (51.61). Larson placed third on the three-meter board (507.10) and fourth in the one-meter event (423.10). Parker touched fourth in the 100 back (51.67) and 200 fly (1:53.30) while also finishing seventh in the 200 back (1:52.88). Ramirez came in fourth in the 100 (57.53) and 200 (2:05.67) fly events, and Walter placed seventh in the one- (347.80) and three-meter (357.30) diving competitions. Breithaupt placed sixth in the 1650 free (16:15.15), while Dahle came in eighth (16:22.28).
SO LONG, FAREWELL: Seniors Emily Stuifbergen (Austin, Texas / James Bowie), Brad Byars (Marion, Ill. / Marion) and Tim Adams (St. Louis, Mo. / Vianney) wrapped up their Billiken swimming careers at the Atlantic 10 Championships on Feb. 23. ZONING OUT: Sophomore diver Anna Larson qualified for the NCAA Zone Meet for the second straight season with her performance at the Illinois-Chicago dual on Nov. 17, 2007. She posted a score of 275.20 on the one-meter board and a 289.30 in the three-meter event. However, Larson opted not to compete in the Zone Meet due to a back injury. RECORD BREAKERS: Seven school records fell or were met by the Billikens at the A-10 Championships. Erin Carlyle (Penticton, British Columbia / Lindenwood), Jordan Hagar (Plattsmouth, Neb. / Marian), Ashley Potocki (South Elgin, Ill. / St. Charles North) and Elena Ramirez teamed to eclipse the women's school record in the 200-free relay with a time of 1:38.57. Brad Byars, Adam Trafton (St. Louis, Mo. / SLUH), Kevin Parker and Michael Dahle shattered the 800-free relay standard in 6:52.66. Then Parker, Sal Cruz (Chesterfield, Mo. / Parkway Central), Stephen Sheridan (Tampa, Fla. / Jesuit) and Byars broke the 400-medley relay record in 3:28.16. Individually, Byars and Parker each turned in two record-setting performances. Parker's 51.67 in the 100 back finals established a new SLU standard as did his 1:53.30 effort in the 200 fly finals. Byars broke the 200 free record with a time of 1:41.44 in the leadoff leg of the 800-free relay. He went on to tie his own SLU record in the 100 free (45.27). The only Saint Louis record broken during the regular season was Dahle's 9:43.00 in the 1000 free on Jan. 18. PURELY ACADEMIC: Saint Louis senior Brad Byars earned his second straight Academic All-Conference accolade en route to being selected as the 2008 A-10 Men's Swimming and Diving Student-Athlete of the Year. He joins former SLU swimmer Christopher Johansen (the 2006 winner) as the only Billikens in program history to achieve the honor. Sophomore Anna Larson garnered a spot on the women's Academic All-Conference squad for the first time in her career. WHAT A WEEK: The Billikens earned five A-10 Rookie of the Week honors and four Performer of the Week accolades this season. Brad Byars was named A-10 Performer of the Week on Nov. 5, Dec. 10, Jan. 21 and Jan. 28. Michael Dahle picked up four Rookie of the Week honors (Oct. 22, Nov. 5, Jan. 14 and Jan. 21), and Katie Robertson was named Rookie of the Week on Dec. 10. |
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