The success of the Syracuse swimming and diving teams can be attributed primarily to one thing – experience. With another strong dual meet, the Orangewomen moved to 3-3 on the season and the men improved to 5-1. The two teams knocked off Seton Hall by scores of 135-96 and 157-66, respectively.

A prime example of that experience can be found in sophomore Pat Mugavin. The distance winner has been a major contributor in the Orangemen’s recent success. Mugavin hasn’t lost in more than a month as the Orangemen have avenged 2002-03 losses to West Virginia, Connecticut and Seton Hall.

On Saturday, Mugavin performed strongly again. He finished first in the men’s 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:39.82 as well as winning the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:36.98.

‘I love where my times are,’ Mugavin said. ‘I would like to see them improve a little more, but I’m really happy with them.’

‘He hasn’t lost this semester,’ SU head coach Lou Walker said. ‘Last year he really didn’t beat anyone, but this year his training has paid off and he has been very consistent.’

The Orangewomen also swam well Saturday. Senior Elyse McDonough, who will swim in her last dual meet this weekend, posted first-place times in the 50 freestyle (24.77) and the 500 freestyle (5:10.01).

On the diving boards, sophomores Dewey Shultz and Erin Cofiell had dominating performances. Both won the 1m and 3m competitions. Shultz won with scores of 278.75 and 313.72, Cofiell with scores of 234.95 and 249.60, respectively.

‘The guys are motivated,’ Walker said. ‘Collectively I think we performed very well where the key match-ups were. There were events where it looked like it was going to be close, but we just out performed them.’

Indeed, several Orangemen contributed Saturday. Sophomore Bobby Schelling was strong in the 200 yard backstroke, winning in a time of 1:51.86. Fellow sophomore Devon Ackroyd was victorious in the 200 individual medley (1:58.24).

Continuing his dominance was Poland native Luk Boral. The freshman won the 200 yard butterfly in 1:54.76, and remained unbeatable in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:03.92)

The women also had a host of winners in their blowout victory, with sophomore Lisa Wittich leading the way. The St. Louis native couldn’t be beaten in the 100, 200 or the 1,000 freestyles. Wittich won the three events with times of 54.99, 1:57.03 and 10:24.47.

‘We are at a point where we are trying to maximize our event potential,’ Walker said. ‘Practice will be shorter. As opposed to being in the water swimming for the entire two hours we will focus more on fine tuning – driving off the walls and improving turns.’

This Saturday, Syracuse’s swimmers and divers will be in Villanova, Pa., where they will compete in their final dual-meet of the season before the team travels to Uniondale the following weekend for the Big East Championship meet.

McDonough and Kalei Mahi are the lone seniors on the women’s side, and Mahi looked ahead at this final dual-meet weekend.

‘The reality that this is the last meet makes you focus more,’ Mahi said. ‘I just want to train well and finish with good times.’

Published on February 2, 2004 at 12:00 pm