Gherghel Wins NCAA 200 Butterfly Championship
5/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Spirit Squads
Freshman sensation Stefan Gherghel destroyed Alabama's school record on the way to winning the 200 butterfly title on the last day of the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Athens, Ga.
"Stefan swam a great race, a smart race," Alabama head coach Don Wagner said. "He went from fifth to first over the last 25. While we were sure short on numbers, we obviously had a pair of quality performances that were able to carry us."
On the strength of Gherghel's win and freshman diver Stewart Smith's fifth place finish off the one-meter board, Alabama posted its first top-20 finish since 1994 when the Tide was 10th. Alabama took 20th place with 34 points.
The Baia Mare, Romania native powered his way to a 1:42.68 finish, outracing junior Jeff Lee of Southern Cal by more than a quarter of a second. Gherghel not only bettered Jon Sieben's 1985 school record by more than a second, he also bettered the Gabrielson Natatorium record set by Heath Edward of Georgia in 1997 by nearly two seconds.
Gherghel became Alabama's first swimming NCAA champion since Glenn Mills won the 200 breaststroke in 1983. The last title for the swimming and diving team was Brent Robert's 1998 NCAA 10-meter championship. Gherghel is the eighth NCAA title in school history and the first 200 butterfly title in school history.
