Meet the Aggies
Schaal Aquatics Center
JENAH DAWSON IM/Fly • Jr. Novato, Calif. San Marin HS ’08
On April 21, 1998, former Aggie swimmer Rand Schaal and his father, Ted, made a $1.4 million donation to the university, $1 million of which was earmarked toward the construction of a new aquatics facility. That contribution, the largest in the history of the intercollegiate athletics department, helped spur the 1999 Facilities And Campus Enhancement (F.A.C.E.) Initiative, which funded the remainder of the aquatics center as well as other campus venues. The complex features an all-deep 65-meter by 25-yard pool with a depth ranging from seven feet to 14 feet (for diving purposes), men’s and women’s locker rooms, four team rooms, training facilities, office space and a fixed-seating capacity for approximately 500. The Schaal Aquatics Center opened its doors during the 200304 season, serving UC Davis men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and the Aggie men’s and women’s water polo programs. In its short lifetime, it has already hosted several championship events, including both the men’s and women’s WWPA Championships in 2004-05 and the 2005 USWP Men’s National Championships. In May of 2006, Schaal Aquatics Center served as the host for the eight-team National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championships (shown above). The event marked the first time an NCAA final was held on the UC Davis campus since the Division II men’s gymnastics championships took place at Recreation Hall.
2009-10: Made finals of 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley at the Big West Championships... Finished sixth in both butterfly events and ninth in the 200 IM... Prelim time of 56.74 in the 100 butterfly was a season-best time while 200 butterfly finals time of 2:04.25 was a team best... Set season-best mark in finals of 200 IM with a time of 2:04.93, third-fastest in UC Davis record books... Also ranks third in the 200 butterfly and eighth in the 100 butterfly all-time... Swam third leg of 200 free “B” relay at conference championships... Named to Big West All-Academic team. 2008-09: Accounted for 29.0 points at Big West Conference Championships... Advanced to finals in both IM events, plus consols in 200 fly... Finished 7th in 400 IM (4:28.65 prelim), 8th in 200 IM (2:05.88 prelim), 11th in 200 fly (2:08.00), posting season-best times in each... Also went 57.62 in 100 fly as exhibition swimmer, 7th in Aggie history... Ranks 3rd on school’s all-time top 10 lists in each IM event, plus 10th in 200 fly. SAN MARIN HS ’08: Four-year qualifier for North Coast Section meet, earning finishes of 12th and 13th place in 200 IM during final two seasons... Captured Marin County Athletic League title in that event as a senior... Also advanced to sections in 100 fly, placing 16th... Fouryear letterwinner in water polo, garnering All-MCAL honors in 2007... Two-time team MVP in each aquatic sport... Earned numerous academic awards, including USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and California Scholarship Federation lifetime membership... Swam for Marin Pirates from 2004-08, earning berth at Jr. Nationals in final season. PERSONAL: Born in Greenbrae, Calif.... Communication major... Parents are Craig & Norma Dawson... Career highlight was being a part of the 2010 Big West Championship team... Proudest personal accomplishment was qualifying for Jr. Nationals one day before the plane flight.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Buffy AJIMURA: “AH-jee-MUHR-ah” Geneva AZEVEDO: “AH-zuh-VAY-doe” Nicole BAHBOUT: “bah-BOOT” Samantha CAPOZZO: “cap-POH-zoh” Heidi KUCERA: “koo-SAIR-uh” Pete MOTEKAITIS: “MOH-tuh-KIE-tiss” Victoria PICHAY: “peech-AY” Phil TONNE: rhymes with “Johnny”
2010-11 UC DAVIS WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING MEDIA GUIDE