2007 Swimming & Diving Season Review

2007 Men's Swimming & Diving Season Review
Bulldogs Finish 13th At

PDF: 2007 Men's Swimming & Diving Season Review(.pdf)    PDF: 2007 Women's Swimming & Diving Season Review (.pdf)

Sebastien Rouault and Gil Stovall each recorded individual third-place finishes to highlight Georgia's showing, while Neil Versfeld added a fourth-place effort.
The Bulldogs finished 13th with 98 points, 47 of which came on the final day.

"I am really proud of this team," Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. "We got off to a rough start the first couple of days, but the guys showed a lot of character and a lot of heart. We did some great things (on the final day), and this was one heck of a season."

Georgia went 12-1 during the regular season, including a 4-0 showing in the Southeastern Conference. During SEC competition, the Bulldogs picked up a 1-point win at Florida - their first victory against the Gators since the 2000-01 campaign.

Rouault Leads Bulldogs' Run
Sebastien Rouault was chosen as the Southeastern Conference Swimmer of the Year by the league's coaches. Rouault won two events at the SECs - the 500 and the 1,650 freestyles. Each win was the third straight of his career at the SECs, giving him seven in three years. Rouault was undefeated in dual meets this year in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyles and the 400 individual medley.

"I am really proud of both of Sebby," Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. "He came through at the SECs with some really big performances, just like he always does. He has represented our program in a tremendous way. He leads every day by his work ethic. We couldn't be happier for him for this award."
Rouault joins Robert Margalis (2003) as Georgia's SEC Swimmers of the Year. Jud Campbell (2001) and Chris Colwill (2005 and 2006) have been recognized as SEC Divers of the Year.

Thorburn Named To SEC
Community Service Team
Will Thorburn was named to the 2007 SEC Swimming and Diving Community Service Teams. Thorburn, a senior from Marietta, has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Club, Relay for Life. He and his teammates adopted an underprivileged family during the Christmas season. Thorburn is a member of SAFER, the Student Alliance for Firearm Education and Responsibility. He also has participated in fund raisers for Multiple Sclerosis and Ministries United for Service and Training (MUST). Thorburn has represented swimming and diving on Georgia's Student Athletic Advisory Committee that develops and carries out community service projects and he was Georgia's representative on the SEC's committee.

"Will does things the way they need to be done, and that's what makes him successful in the pool, in the classroom and in the community," Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. "Will has been one of my favorite guys to coach. He demonstrated leadership early in his career and has gotten more and more successful every year. He fits a lot of things into his days, and he does them all well. He understands what college life for a student-athlete is supposed to be about."

Where In The World Is Colwill?
Georgia's Chris Colwill wasn't at the NCAAs to defend his 2006 titles on the 1- and 3-meter springboards, but he had a pretty good excuse.

Colwill was selected to represent the United States at the 2007 FINA World Championships by USA Diving, and he placed fourth on the men's 1-meter springboard.

Colwill redshirted during the 2006-07 season for the Bulldogs, so he will be a senior on next year's squad.

"Chris has performed very well the last 12 months and has represented the University of Georgia and the United States very well," Georgia diving coach Dan Laak said. "I am very proud of him. We're thrilled that he will have one more year with us."

In 2006, Colwill won the NCAA title on the springboards and was named the National Diver of the Year.

2007 Women's Swimming & Diving Season Review
Lady Bulldogs Finish Fifth At NCAAs
The Georgia women's swimming and diving team finished fifth at the 2007 NCAA Championship held in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Lady Bulldogs scored 290 points at the NCAAs, giving them their 11th consecutive top-5 finish. Georgia also placed second at the SEC Championship, its 12th straight top-3 showing.

"I can't be more proud of this team," Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said following the NCAAs. "This is as hard fought a battle as we have ever had to make. We got everything we could have asked for. This was a great championship for the kids. I am happy for our coaching staff, and I am elated to be in this position."

Joyce Caps Phenomenal Career
Kara Lynn Joyce capped her collegiate career by winning the 2007 Honda Award for swimming and diving, signifying the senior as the nation's top collegiate female swimmer.

"I could not be prouder than I am of Kara Lynn Joyce for representing the University of Georgia the way she has the last four years," Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. "She's been a great ambassador for our school and for our sport in and out of the pool. We are going to miss her so much. She has been a remarkable competitor. She certainly is deserving of the Honda Award for everything she's done."

Joyce capped her career by winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events at the NCAA Championship, becoming only the second woman ever to claim four straight national titles in two events. She earned both National Swimmer of Year and Southeastern Conference Swimmer of Year honors for the second straight time. Joyce is second all-time with 18 national titles (nine individual and nine relays) and she won nine individual SEC titles.

"You never head into the NCAAs going after a record or a certain number of wins," Joyce said "All I have ever tried to do is score as many points as I can for my team. Out of those wins, nine came on relays, which means I wouldn't even be in this position without my teammates."

Maust Named To SEC Community Service Team
Claire Maust was named to the 2007 SEC Swimming and Diving Community Service Team. Maust, a senior from Alpharetta, has donated her time to Special Olympics, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and Relay for Life. She has delivered Thanksgiving meals to needy families, is a lector at Catholic Center Mass, has read to local elementary school students and was a reading buddy for a third-grade student. Maust also has organized a program to help teach leadership and teamwork qualities and behaviors to fifth-grade students.

Conference Calls For Lady Bulldogs
The Lady Bulldogs finished second at the 2007 SEC Championship and then pulled in several post-meet accolades.

In voting conducted by the league's coaches, Kara Lynn Joyce was named the SEC Swimmer of the Year after winning three individual events and claiming the Commissioner's Trophy for high-point honors. Joining Joyce on the First Team were Claire Maust and Aleksandra Putra, while Anne-Marie Botek, Jessica Cole, Kelly McNichols and Anna Miller made the Second Team.

The Knoxville News Sentinel also named Joyce as the SEC Swimmer of the Year, with Maust and Putra joining her on the First Team. The Honorable Mention list included Anna Miller, Mhyria Miller, Botek, Cole and McNichols.

No Place Like Home For Georgia
Georgia's home pool, Gabrielsen Natatorium, is one of the nation's top facilities, having hosted NCAA and SEC championships. It's also become of the toughest places in America for opponents.

The Lady Bulldogs went 7-0 at home this season, extending their consecutive wins at home to 57. The streak dates back to the 1995-96 campaign, when the current seniors were fifth-grade students.