AGGIES SWIM PAST HOWARD

Gia Wright and Signe Waldbauer each win two individual events

Results

GREENSBORO, N.C., December 2, 2005 - In the short history of the swim program at N.C. A&T, there have not been many meets that have not been decided by the final event. However, the Aggies needed a big finish at the end to win tonight's dual meet against Howard.

The team of Asha el-Shair, Sujotta Pace, Aasiya Townsell and Shanell Thomas won the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:45.69 to give the Aggies a 101-91 victory over the Bison. The win was the first of the season for N.C. A&T.

Howard won the 200 medley relay and won five consecutive individual events to take a 73-50 lead with just four events left. The Aggies then began their rally.

Sophomore Gia Wright captured both the 100 backstroke (1:06.33) and the 100 breaststroke (1:08.95). Signe Waldbauer won  the 500 freestyle (6:17.66). Tia Davis and Donielle Campbell gave the Aggies crucial points with second place finishes in the 500 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke, respectively.

Waldbauer joined Wright as a double-winner as she won the 1000 freestyle (13:04.83). The wins were the first individual victories for the freshman. "It feels good to be able to win," she said. "I had been getting off [the starting block] really slow, and this week, coach Hendrix worked with me to get me off to better starts. Once I saw that I was doing well, I sprinted the final three or four laps. It was great to see that my times have improved by so much."

Coach Hendrix was pleased to see the improvements made by her freshmen and sophomores, whom combined to score 72 points in the individual events. "We've been going through some growing pains, which comes from inexperience," Hendrix said. "But tonight showed us how good we can be when we work hard, practice hard and train hard. I'm very happy to be where we are at this point of our season."

The Aggies will host Campbell on Senior Night at Corbett Sports Center on Friday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. In addition to the senior festivities, the swim team, anchored by Chancellor James C. Renick, will challenge members of the university athletic teams in a freestyle relay.