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Men's Swimming And Diving Sends Nine To Dallas Morning News Classic

Two day meet takes place in Dallas on January 14-15.

Jan. 13, 2000

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Nine members of the Florida State swimming and diving team will travel to Dallas, Texas on January 14-15, 2000 for the Dallas Morning News Classic hosted by Southern Methodist University. The Seminoles will join host team #13 Southern Methodist, #19 Louisiana State, #15 Texas A&M, #12 Arizona State and Nebraska in the two day meet, with events beginning at 7:30pm each night.

Dallas Morning News Classic

Seminoles Representing at the Classic

Seniors: Brett Petersen, Keven Flanagan, Julian Daily, Bill Schultz, Nelson Mora, Brent Burkman

Junior: Greg Main-Baillie

Sophomore: Steve Forson

Freshman: Justin Betts

The 1999 nine-man Seminole squad made the first appearance for FSU in the classic, taking on #2 Texas, #6 Tennessee, #9 Michigan, #11 Minnesota and Southern Methodist. The Seminoles, who were then ranked #16, won the classic by 22 points after winning 10 of the 18 events.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Florida State	319
2. Tennessee	298
3. Minnesota	293
4. Southern Methodist	270
5. Michigan	251
6. Texas	242

Representing FSU

Diving- Brent Burkman
Swimming- Keam Ang, Brendon Dedekind, Greg Main-Baillie, Matt McVittie, Nelson Mora, Stephen Parry, Brett Petersen, Julio Santos.

1999 Results

500 Free	6th-Keam Ang, 9th- Nelson Mora
200 Back	1st- Stephen Parry, 8th Greg Main-Baillie
200 Breast	2nd- Brett Petersen, 10th- Julio Santos
100 Free	1st-Brendon Dedekind, 10th-Matt McVittie
200 Fly	1st- Stephen Parry, 8th- Nelson Mora
200 IM	6th- Greg Main-Baillie, 11th- Keam Ang
400 IM	1st- Stephen Parry, 12th- Greg Main-Baillie
200 Free	4th- Matt McVittie, 11th- Nelson Mora
100 Fly	1st- Stephen Parry, 9th- Keam Ang
50 Free	1st- Brendon Dedekind, 7th- Julio Santos
100 Back	4th- Greg Main-Baillie
100 Breast	1st-Brendon Dedekind, 7th-Brett Petersen
200 Free Relay	1st- Parry, Santos, McVittie, Dedekind
400 Free Relay	1st- Santos, McVittie, Main-Baillie, Dedekind
800 Free Relay	1st- Parry, Santos, Mora, McVittie
400 Medley Relay	2nd- Main-Baillie, Petersen, Ang, Dedekind
One-Meter Diving	5th- Brent Burkman
Three-Meter Diving	6th- Brent Burkman

A LITTLE HISTORY: This will mark the 18th annual classic. The meet is all fast, short races- no distance. The event allows nine men from each team, eight swimmers and a diver, to compete in the two sessions, which are all final heats, one consolation and one final. Diving competes on the one-meter and three-meter.

Texas has won the classic seven times, the most in classic history. Southern Methodist has won it three times, Florida twice and FSU, Michigan, Tennessee, UCLA and Stanford have each won the meet once.

Meet Head Coach Neil Harper (Louisiana State '88)
Head Coach Neil Harper returned to Florida State after spending two years as the head coach of the women's swim team at Ohio State University. At the helm of the Lady Buckeye squad, Harper posted a 15-12 record and had six ladies qualify for the NCAA Championships. The squad was also named and NCAA All-American Academic Team and 20 swimmers were named to the All-Big Ten Academic team.

Before heading to Ohio State, Harper spent three years as an assistant coach for the men's and women's programs at Florida State. His responsibilities included recruiting and coordinating the strength and conditioning programs as well as working closely with the individual medley and stroke groups. During his time at FSU, Harper coached 17 NCAA All-Americans as well as FSU's first National Champion, Stephen Parry, who won the 200 Butterfly in 1997. He was also an intrigal part of the 1997 men's Top 10 finish and the women's Top 30 finish.

After graduating from LSU, Harper served as an assistant coach for the men's and women's programs at his alma mater. From 1988-94, he coached 21 swimmers to NCAA All-America honors and coached seven Southeastern Conference champions.

During his years as a Tiger, Harper was a seven event All-American, won four SEC individual titles and as a senior, captained the team to the conference title. He competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics on the 400 meter medley relay, finishing sixth in the Los Angeles Olympics and fourth in the Seoul Olympics.

Harper is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) and the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

Harper and his wife Paige, who as an NCAA All-American and SEC breastroke champion at LSU, have been married for nine years and have two daughters Katherine, who will be five in November, and Kelly who is three.