Harvard's Morrissey an Iron Man
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Conditioning never was a problem for Patrick Morrissey in high school.
The 2003 Iolani School graduate ran cross country in the fall, swam in the winter and competed in track in the spring.
Endurance paid off for the Harvard freshman Saturday when he swam in all 17 races of the Crimson's 237-62 victory over visiting Pennsylvania before a supportive crowd at Blodgett Pool.
"Everyone was behind me 100 percent," Morrissey told the Harvard Crimson school newspaper. "I was able to feed off everyone's energy. At the end, I was so happy. My adrenaline almost erased the pain for a little while."
The school's Iron Man tradition is passed each year to one freshman, who must swim in each race at the last dual meet of the season.
Harvard senior Rassan Grant told the Harvard Crimson that there is "speculation" that President Kennedy performed the Iron Man feat in 1940.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING
University of San Diego sophomore Ashley Swart won two individual medley races and was a member of a winning medley relay at the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Swimming and Diving Championships in Long Beach, Calif., last weekend.
Swart, a 2002 graduate of Kaiser from Hawai'i Kai, won the 200-yard IM in 2 minutes, 4.79 seconds and the 400 IM in 4:22.49. Swart set meet records for both events last year. Her 400 IM time is No. 13 nationally.
She also swam on the winning 800 freestyle relay team, which finished in 7:36.25.
Swart also swam with Ashley Rose (Kealakehe '02 of Kailua, Kona) on the 200 medley relay (5th, 1:48.93) and 400 medley relay (3rd, 3:54.38) teams.
Rose finished fifth in the 100 backstroke in 59.35 seconds and 18th in the 50 freestyle in 24.73 seconds. She also swam on the 200 freestyle relay team that finished fifth in 1:37.97.
Pepperdine's Nicole Okuna (Waiakea '02 of Hilo) placed fourth in the 100 butterfly in 56.5 seconds and 20th in the 200 IM in 2:12.78.
Her team came in sixth in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:38.94 and eighth in the 200 medley relay in 1:50.36.
FOOTBALL
Brigham Young junior safety Aaron Francisco (Kahuku '01 of La'ie) was named as one of the "117 Players You Should Know in 2004" by Collegefootballnews.com.
Francisco had 116 tackles, three interceptions, three defended passes, seven tackles for loss and three forced fumbles last season.
The publication said: "He's a several-year pro waiting to happen. Francisco has great athleticism, good speed, nice size and he hits like a ton of bricks. ... He stays focused, works hard, practices hard, and does everything the coaching staff would love him to do."
WOMEN'S WRESTLING
Pacific (Ore.) freshman Kapua Torres (Kahuku '03), ranked No. 2 in the nation at 112.25 pounds, defeated top-ranked Lauren Lindsey of Cumberland, 12-5, and No. 3 Debbie Sakai (Mililani '03) of Missouri Valley at the Women's International Collegiate Duals last weekend.
Pacific junior Kristin Fujioka (Castle '01) went 2-0 in the 105.5-pound weight class with an 11-9 decision of Cumberland's Aquilla Hills and an 11-0 technical fall over Missouri Valley freshman Angelee Homma ('Aiea '03).
Missouri Valley freshman Stephany Lee (Moanalua '02) pinned Shelly Graff of Pacific in 2:02 in 169.5 pounds.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
