Nova Masters Swimming (Orange County, CA)

SAVANNAH, GA - While the Irvine Novaquatics had five national team members (Aaron Peirsol, Jason Lezak, Lenny Krayzelburg, Gabe Woodard, and Colleen Lanne) competing for the U.S. Olympic Team in Athens, they also had six Masters swimmers (Jim Phalan, Gerard VonHoffman, Frank Wasko, Tord Benner, Gabriella Phalan, and Kathryn Hager) competing at the United States Masters Long Course National Championships in Savannah, Georgia. The team set an incredible 15 new team records during the meet. The NOVA's placed 27th in the combined team score, with all 6 swimmers scoring points, for an average of 24.5 points per swimmer, which on a quality scale beats out the 9th place overall team (Colonials 1776) which had 408 points with 20 swimmers (a 20.4 average points per swimmer). Jim Plalan led the way taking home three National titles in the 25-29 men's division - 50 Free (25.58), 100 Free (55.88), and 50 Fly titles (26.96). The 100 Free and 50 Fly were also new Nova Masters team records. Gabriela Phalan, "the sprint queen" placed 4th in the 50 Breast (39.83), 5th in the 50 Free (29.15), and 6th in the 50 Fly (33.07). All 3 were new team records in the 30-34 age group. Frank Wasko set team records in all 3 backstroke events in the 40-44 age group: 3rd in the 200 Back (2:26.10), 4th in the 50 Back (30.39), 5th in the 100 Back. Frank also took 7th in the 50 Fly (28.36) Kathryn Hager finished 9th in the 100 Breast with a personal best time by 3 seconds (1:39.77), and 12th in the 50 Breast (44.69) Tord Benner avenged getting his 40-44 backstroke records being broken by setting new ones in all 3 backstroke events in the 45-49 age group, 50 (31.83), 100 (1:12.65), and 200 (2:38.77) and also adding the 800 Free (21:08.11). Finally Gerard Von Hoffman set team records in all 3 Breaststroke events for the 45-49 age group 50 Breast (2nd in 33.13), 100 Breast (2nd in 1:15.62), and 200 Breast (3rd in 2:48.62). He also placed 6th in the 50 Fly with a solid time of 28.34. The Nova men also has an excellent relay performance when the team of Benner, Von Hoffman, Wasko, & Phalan placed 3rd in the Men's 160-199 combined age group 200 Medley Relay with a new team record by 4 seconds (1:56.84). Benner's lead-off of 31.70 also lowered his own 50 Back record. Full results and splits are available at: http://www.usms.org/comp/lcnats04/results/ "I was very impressed with their results." Nova Head Masters Coach Michael Collins said. "It's tough to fly across the country and compete in a different time zone with very humid conditions and still have good performances. We don't have the luxury or time of the Olympic team to get there well in advance to adjust to the time difference and weather conditions." "We will be at a significant advantage next year when the Long Course Nationals will be held right here in our back yard at Mission Viejo (Aug 10-14, 2005). I am expecting a very large turnout from our team for that event. I think we will have about 100 swimmers participating in the meet. We should be a serious contender for the overall team title." "We are really looking forward to the pool reopening at Heritage Park (the newly renamed Woollett Aquatic Center), and growing our team membership. It is really a fabulous facility and we will be offering several practice times a day including early mornings, mid-day, and evening times which should make it very convenient for people to practice on a regular basis. We will also continue to offer practice times at Soka University in Aliso Viejo which is more convenient for our South Orange County members."