Nov. 2, 1999
LAS VEGAS -- The swimming and diving teams this season are looking for a successful and competitive season in the new Mountain West Conference. The conference will be a competitive one for the season's squad. The team is lead by head coach Jim Reitz who is in his 19th season at UNLV. During that span, the five-time Big West Conference of the Year (1984, 1991, 1994 women's, 1987 and 1996 men's) has taken programs which were non-existence and built them into teams which consistently battle for positioning at the NCAA Championships.
The women's program has won three conference titles (1984, 1991 and 1992), produced numerous All-Americans and recorded an undefeated dual-meet season in 1991. The men's program has risen to national prominence, consistently scoring at the NCAA Championships. In addition, Reitz has sent swimmers to represent the U.S. National Team.
Surrounded by talented assistant coaches, Reitz and his staff are devoted to the goal of becoming a program that battles for a place in the top 10 on a yearly basis. He emphasizes consistency and intensity during training.
He also expects the same consistency and intensity from his student-athletes in the classroom. In 1998-99, eight swimmers were recognized as UNLV's Academic Top 30 program, they were Donna Wu, Jonathan Fiene, Andrea sacks. Lisa Hess, Nicole Mendrinos, Sarah Schneider, Victoria Naess and Doug Wake. Fiene and Wu were awarded UNLV's Male and Female Outstanding Student-Athlete Awards for academic excellence. Fourteen UNLV swimmers were recognized on the Academic All-WAC team, they were Jonathan Fiene, Janal Frei, Jamie Harms, Ryan Kelly, Ryan Lathrum, Nicole Mendrinos, Victoria Naess, Heather Nelson, Tomasz Piotrowski, Andrea Sacks, Sarah Schneider, Jessica Vipperman, Doug Wake and Donna Wu.
The men's teams lost the most points to graduation this year. It was the most points lost in a decade. The team went from having multiple All-Americans to a much younger team, but loaded with talent. "It will take time to develop the talent but we don't have a problem with that. This year's men's team will be a late developing team, though, we are looking to have a great year," said head coach Jim Reitz. The Rebels open against two top 10 teams in the nation. This year's team is deep in sprint events, which is the first in a while. The Rebels will be noted in the 200 and up. "We are excited about the new conference. There are more established teams and it will be more competitive. Teams will be closer together talent wise and also most schools will be closer to each other from a traveling standpoint," said head coach Jim Reitz. Andrew Livingston left the team when he officially was named to the Olympic team for Puerto Rico.
Bobby Middleton has emerged as a national level competitor and needs to continue to improve to compete in the NCAA's this year. He is the captain of the men's team. He was an Olympic qualifier in the past. Bobby is looking to have a great senior season. In high school he lettered four times in swimming and three times in water polo. He is the school record-holder in two individual events and three relays. He was named as an All-American consideration. He captured the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division 3 title in the 100-yard breaststroke. Middleton's best career marks are 55.95 in the 100 breaststroke, 2:04.65 in the 200 breaststroke and 1:57.70 in the 200 IM.
The women's team will be lead by red shirt freshman Lorraine Diaconescu. Lorraine won two gold medals at the World University Games in Spain and she also participated in the Olympics for the Romanian Olympic team. Dana Penn was the Freshman of the Year last year in the former WAC conference. Penn is looking to improve on her great season from last year. The team will be provided with a great amount of diversity. It will be an interesting year for the women's team. Ashleigh Crowder is looking to have a great season. She will expect to challenge for the conference championship in the backstroke events. She was the top scorer in those events.
Dana Penn is considered one of the top swimmers on the women's team. Penn is a leader and a tough competitor. She was the Freshman of the Year in the Western Athletic Conference last season. She will look to win in the new conference this season. She will compete in the 400 IM, 200 butterfly, 500 freestyle, and the 800 freestyle relay. She had a very successful career in high school. She was a four-year letterwinner and helped her team to the state championship in her senior season. She was named All-American in the 200 IM, 500 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. She is the high school record holder in the 500 freestyle, 200 IM and is the state record holder in the 400 freestyle. She was named All-State eight times. She is a member of the National Honor Society.
The diving team is also looking to have a successful season in the new Mountain West Conference. Chris Boyd begins his second season as head coach for the diving program. A former UNLV diver under the original Rebel diving coach, his father Greg Boyd, he stepped into the role of head diving coach in the middle of the 1997-98 season. Boyd comes to UNLV with six years experience coaching U.S. diving and has been involved in competitive diving for over 18 years. His goal of building a strong diving program will help UNLV compete for the MWC Swimming and Diving Championship.
Says Coach Reitz," He was a competitor for us a couple of years ago, and his father also coached here, so he has been a part of UNLV for a long time. He helps provide us with stability as we look to emerge as a top program in the MWC. The athletes really relate to him, as he is a great on-the-deck coach."
The Rebels will have two divers competing for them this season. Lisa Yonesawa will compete for the women and Lucas Richmond will compete for the men. Yonesawa will be the main competitor for the team. She will face tough competition as a freshman and in the new conference. She will gain knowledge and experience throughout the season which she will make the team better next season. She was the captain of the diving team at Cheyene High School in Las Vegas. She was a letterwinner for three years. As the only diver on the men's team, Richmond will play a big part in the success of UNLV diving. Richmond is a great competitor, he is looking forward to adding towers to his repertoire. He will challenge for the conference title in the diving events. In his senior season, he finished second in the Northern Conference and earned eighth place at the state meet. He placed second in the state meet in his junior season. He was also awarded All-State diving and All-Conference honors in his final season. Richmond's best marks for his freshman season were 383.850 in the 1-Meter and 394.450 in the 3-Meter.
The men's and women's teams' are looking towards a competitive and exciting year in the new Mountain West Conference.
