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They're back on top

by Keith Peters

To be or not to be - ranked No. 1 in the nation, that is. That is the question. And the answer?

"I don't mind being No. 1," said Stanford men's swim coach Skip Kenney. "It's good. It's exciting. It's something to talk to the team about."

While some coaches shy away from that lofty status, perhaps fearing the only place his or her team can go from there is down, Kenney welcomes having the target on his team's back.

"I don't think it puts more pressure on you," Kenney said. "I think there's more pressure if you have a lousy team."

The Stanford men's and women's teams are quite the opposite. Both are coming off second-place finishes at the 2001 NCAA championships and both were ranked No. 1 in the preseason and first in-season poll. That says volumes on the talent and potential of each Cardinal squad.

The Stanford women, who lost the national title by two points last season while carrying just 21 swimmers and divers, this season have a roster of 34 after losing just four athletes - one of whom was 12-time NCAA champ Misty Hyman.

"I think our team has a chance to compete with the best teams in the nation," said head coach Richard Quick, whose squad already has beaten three-time defending champ Georgia and 2001 third-place finisher Texas. "I really think we have a chance to win (NCAA's). We're at least 100 points better swimming than last year and are much improved in diving."

That's one reason, perhaps, the Cardinal women are No. 1.

"I think that's especially nice for a young team," Quick said. "I don't mind being No.1. That's something that can give a young team confidence. It can mean something to the young kids on our team, even though the seniors keep reminding them that being No. 1 in only important after the NCAAs are over."

While being No. 1 is one thing, staying in that position is another. While both teams are undefeated in dual meets, they'll be tested this weekend in home meets against Arizona (today) and Arizona State (Saturday). Today's co-ed meet starts at 1 p.m. On Saturday, the women will compete at noon and the men at 2 p.m., both in Avery Aquatic Center.

Following this weekend, both teams will compete in Los Angeles and then close out their home schedule against California - the women on Feb. 16 and the men on Feb. 23. Both squads then will defend their Pacific-10 Conference meet titles before heading off to the NCAAs - the women in Austin, Texas, and the men in Athens, Ga.

Between now and then, both Kenney and Quick will use their respective seasons to discover just how good their teams are, and where best to place their athletes when the meets count the most.

The men, for example, have nine freshmen and 12 sophomores on their roster of 31. And of the 34 Cardinal women, 24 are freshmen and sophomores. Clearly, challenging for national titles is an on-going proposition.

While Kenney leans toward defending champ Texas as the NCAA favorite and Quick likes Auburn's chances, both know their teams have what it takes to win it all.

"I really, really like this team," Kenney said. And so he should. While the Cardinal won only two NCAA titles last season, they do return nine point-scoring All-Americans in Markus Rogan, Randall Bal, Jeff Guyman, Bobby O'Bryan, Greg Long, Peter Marshall. Dan Westcott, Michael Bruce, and Andrew Schnell.

Of that group, Bal went on to gain valuable experience during the summer by winning a gold medal at the World Championships, where Rogan earned a silver. Marshall won three golds at the World University Games and Westcott was a valuable member of the USA team at the Goodwill Games.

Current freshmen Jayme Cramer (World University Games) and Dan Trupin (Goodwill Games) also showed big-time improvement during their summer meets.

Cramer, a 21-time All-American, was the 2001 National High School Swimmer of the Year. Fellow freshman Matt McDonald, meanwhile, was the 2001 National High School Coaches Association National Swimmer of the Year. While Trupin was "only" the Illinois High School Swimmer of he Year in 2000 and '01, he was the only finalist (among this year's freshman class) at the 2000 Olympic trials.

Palo Alto High grad Eric DiIulio, the CCS record-holder in the 500-yard free and an 11-time All-American, is just another bright star among the freshmen this season.

Certainly, the Stanford men possess more depth than a season ago. The Cardinal, of course, will need that to help offset the nearly 100 points they'll lose to Texas in diving. Bal, Rogan and Marshall all were among the world's best in the backstroke last season and will be counted upon to pile up NCAA points like in '01 when all three placed among the top seven in both the 100- and 200-yard backs.

Stanford also will be solid in all the other events and should be much improved on the relays by the time nationals roll around.

As for the Stanford women, the five-member senior class of Jessica Foschi, Alexis Oakland, Shelly Ripple and divers Kim Powers and Alexis Sowa will lead the way, along with sophomore Tara Kirk.

"The leadership is extraordinary and the rest of the team should be able to feed off that leadership," said Quick. "This team seems to have a really nice chemistry and that makes a big difference."

And will the return of Foschi, Ripple and Kirk - all defending NCAA champions.

"Obviously, our team is led by Shelly, Jessica and Tara," said Quick.

Ripple was a seven-time All-American last season and should add to her career All-American honors. She's a four-time NCAA champion on relays and will be looking for her first individual title this spring.

Foschi is primed for an even better senior season after winning her first NCAA crown - in the 500 free - last year. She ranks No. 2 all-time at Stanford in the 500 free (4:37.81), behind only Olympian Janet Evans.

Kirk, who set school records in the 100 and 200 breast as a freshman, capped her fabulous first season by winning the 100 breast crown at the NCAA finals.

"I already consider Tara Kirk the best breaststroker in the nation, and she's on a great improvement curve," Quick said.

While the Cardinal landed a number of talented freshmen, the big addition this season may come from diving where Dr. Rick Schavone has arguably his best squad in 23 years.

Junior McKenze Murphy returns after earning All-Americans honors in the one-meter and on the platform. Five-time All-American Kim Powers is back after missing last season due to a shoulder injury and will be joined by fellow senior Alexis Sowa, plus a freshman class that includes six-time Senior National champion Erica Sorgi and Gunn High grad Ashlee Rosenthal.

"Diving is absolutely one of our strongest events," Quick said.

Added Schavone: "I think we have a chance to take four divers to the NCAA championships this year. We've taken three before, but never four."

Sounds like a year of many firsts for the Stanford swim teams this season.

E-mail Keith Peters at kpeters@paweekly.com