1996-97 Men's Swimming and Diving Season Wrap-Up
3/14/1997 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
1996-97 Men's Swimming and Diving Season Wrap-Up
3/14/1997
The University of Pittsburgh men's swimming and diving team won its 12th Big East championship in 15 years when it coasted to victory at the Big East Swimming and Diving Championships at Rutgers University. It also marked the first time in 15 years that Pitt has not hosted the event. The Panthers' team score of 717 points easily outdistanced the closest competition, second-place Syracuse (592.5) and Miami (493.5).
Junior Jonathan Haggerty (Allison Park, PA/Hampton H.S.), a returning two-time Big East champion, added four first-place finishes at Rutgers by winning both the 200-individual medley and the 100 butterfly; he also was part of the Panthers' event-winning 200- and 400-medley relay teams.
Freshman Brian Elko (Danville, NJ/Danville H.S.) captured three first-place finishes, winning the 100abackstroke and also swimming as part of Pitt's first-place 200- and 400-medley relay units.
Two other fine newcomers, freshman Scott Van Epps (Fort Thomas, KY/Highlands H.S.) and freshman Mike Pron (Belle Meade, NJ/Hillsborough H.S.) won individual events. Van Epps won the 100- and 200-breaststroke.
Head Coach Chuck Knoles led the Panthers to their fourth Big East title in his seven seasons at Pitt and was named Big East Men's Swimming Coach of the Year by the conference coaches for the third time.
