AU SWIMMING & DIVING: Three Tigers head to World University Games

By: Special to the News | OANow.com
Published: July 04, 2009

Auburn rising seniors Ava Ohlgren, Kelly Marx and Dan Mazzaferro are preparing for competition in the 25th World University Games, to be held today-Friday in Belgrade, Serbia.

Ohlgren earned her position on the USA National Team following a 400 Individual Medley victory at the 2008 USA Swimming U.S. Open. The Northville, Mich., native was also selected to represent the United States in the 200 IM and 200 fly.

“Training has been going well,” said Ohlgren. “I trained in Colorado for three weeks which was a lot of fun and then coming back here for the past two weeks to taper has been great because Brett Hawke is awesome at tapering people and resting them up. I think the meet is going to go well.”

The 2007 Pan-American Games Gold Medalist commences action on Sunday with heats and finals for the 400 IM.

Marx and Mazzaferro advanced to Serbia after a series of top finishes at the 2009 Speedo USA Diving Spring Nationals. The duo placed second in the men’s 3-meter synchronized finals while, as individuals, Mazzaferro placed second off the tower and Marx finished fourth off the 3-meter springboard. At the 2007 World University Games, Mazzaferro placed fifth in synchronized platform and 23rd in platform diving.

“It’s weird because Team USA is made of the people that you compete against at NCAAs,” said Marx. “The guy who was your biggest enemy is now your teammate. That aspect of it is really cool, and I’m just really excited to experience something like that because I’ve never done anything like it before.”

The pair start things off today with prelims and finals for the men’s 3-meter synchro.

Auburn has had a strong history in the World University Games, winning 36 gold medals since 1983. Most recently, in 2007, Auburn swimmers took three gold medals on the performances of Kara Denby, Bryan Lundquist and Doug Van Wie. In 2005, former Tigers Demerae Christianson, Hayley Peirsol and Eric Shanteau each claimed gold.

The United States is sending a total of 26 swimmers and 11 divers to Belgrade. The U.S. swimmers at the 2009 World University Games roster were chosen based on their performance at the U.S. Open Championships in Minneapolis, Minn. Divers were chosen by committee following the Speedo Spring Nationals.