Nov. 28, 2011

SAN DIEGO, Calif.- UP NEXT: US Nationals, December 1st-3rd
Georgia Tech Aquatic Center - Atlanta, GA

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ON THE SLATE: Senior Sarah Geerdes, sophomore Eleanor Phillips and freshman Keenan Lineback will represent the Toreros at the US Nationals at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center Dec. 1st-3rd in Atlanta, GA. Preliminary heats will begin at 9:00 am each day, with finals taking place no later than 6:00 pm. The meet will feature only individual competition, no relays. Geerdes is scheduled to compete in the 200 meter individual medley, which will be the third overall event on Thursday; the 200 meter freestyle, which will be on Friday; and the 100 meter freestyle, which will take place on Saturday. Phillips is slated to compete in the 200 meter butterfly, which will be the final women's event of the meet on Saturday. Lineback is scheduled to race in the 400 meter individual medley, which will be the first event of the day on Friday. All three will also attempt to qualify in time trials in a variety of other events over the weekend as well.

LAST TIME OUT: The Toreros finished in 15th place at the Arena Invitational in Long Beach, Calif. on Nov. 17th-19th. USD compiled a total of 173 points over the three-day meet, while Keenan Lineback posted the top overall finish for the Toreros with an eighth-place showing in the 1650 yard freestyle with a time of 16:57.02. USD's A relay team of Sarah Geerdes, Melissa Andruzzi, Taylor Noonan and Francesca Finucane notched the best relay finish for the Toreros when they took 10th place in the 800 yard freestyle with a time of 7:31.33. A number of Toreros posted the team's fastest times of the season in their respective events as well, including junior Jacquie Kimmel, who posted USD season-bests in the 50 yard freestyle (23.92) and 100 yard freestyle (52.18). Geerdes clocked a season-best 1:50.99 in the 200 yard freestyle, while Finucane also notched a season-best with a 4:57.49 in the 500 yard freestyle. Lineback turned in season-bests in the 1650 yard freestyle (16:57.02), 200 yard backstroke (2:08.56), while fellow freshman Noonan earned a season-best time in the 100 yard backstroke (58.86). Andruzzi posted a pair of season-bests as she clocked a 2:25.18 in the 200 yard breaststroke and a 2:05.98 in the 200 yard IM. Rounding out the team's top times recorded during the weekend were Phillips, with a 2:04.36 in the 200 yard butterfly, and junior Kelly Stone, with a 56.87 in the 100 yard butterfly.

USD'S TOP RETURNERS FOR 2011-2012: Sarah Geerdes, Senior - Last season Geerdes posted USD all-time records in the following events: 200, 400, and 800 free relays, 400 medley relay, 50 freestyle, and 200 freestyle. Geerdes also took home first-team All-MPSF honors in the 200 freestyle and second-team recognition in the 200 IM, 100 freestyle, and 400 free relay.

Melissa Andruzzi, Junior - Andruzzi was a second-team All-MPSF selection last season in the 200 IM, 400 IM, and 400 free relay. She set all-time records last season in the 400 and 800 free relays and the 200 and 400 medley relays.

Kristyn Deckard, Junior - Deckard earned second-team All-MPSF honors last season in the 200 medley relay while also setting USD records in the 200 and 400 medley relays and 100 and 200 backstroke.

Francesca Finucane, Junior - Finucane was named second-team All-MPSF in 2010-2011 in the 100 and 200 freestyle and the 400 free relay. She set USD records in the 100 freestyle, 400 and 800 free relays, and 400 medley relay.

Jacquie Kimmel, Junior - Kimmel took home second-team All-MPSF recognition last year in the 200 medley relay. She set team records in the 200 and 400 free relays and the 200 medley relay.

Eleanor Phillips, Sophomore - Phillips opened her collegiate swimming career in 2010-2011 by earning second-team All-MPSF honors in the 400 IM and the 200 butterfly.

Kelly Stone, Junior - Stone garnered second-team All-MPSF honors in the 100 butterfly while also setting USD records in the 200 and 400 medley relay.

HEAD COACH Mike Keeler: Mike Keeler has done a remarkable job at USD in the development of San Diego's swimming and diving program since taking over as the Toreros head coach in the fall of 1998. Spanning 13 complete seasons, Keeler's student-athletes have shattered virtually every school record. Under his guidance the Toreros won back-to-back team titles at the Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference Championships (2000 & 2001) and made the school's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Championships (2003)- setting the table for San Diego's successful bid for membership in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2005. Prior to USD, Keeler served as assistant men's swim coach at Purdue University in Indiana for five seasons. Keeler held assistant swim coaching posts for the women's swimming program at Purdue (1993-94), similar men's and women's positions at the University of Miami (1991-93) and at Michigan State (1988). Through the 1989-91 seasons, Keeler was the assistant men's coach for Michigan State. A 1984 graduate of Central Michigan University, Mike earned his B.S. Degree in Physical Education. He went on to earn his M.S. degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis on Coaching and Athletic Administration, at Michigan State in 1992. He is currently a member of the United States Swimming, College Swim Coaches Association, and the American Swim Coaches Association. He was the lead-author of "Biomechanical Analysis: Stroke Frequency/Velocity Testing Protocol", an article that appeared in the United States Swimming Magazine "Coaches Quarterly." Mike and his wife Michele have three children, Matthew, Mitchell and Mayce.