Jan. 5, 2003

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Josh Baseheart has moved up in the national rankings, and has some teammates to keep him company this time around.

Baseheart and Jason Procto are both ranked in individual events in the latest national top time rankings, according to CollegeSwimming.com. Baseheart is ranked in three different individual events, while Procto is ranked in one. In addition to the two individuals, the Panthers also have four of the five relay teams ranked in the top 75 in the nation.

"To have that many people ranked in the nation means our program is starting to come of age," head coach Dave Clark said. "Having had our first student-athlete ranked last year (Baseheart), and now adding a couple with the relays, means we're really moving forward as a program."

Baseheart is ranked as high as 22nd in the nation in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:38.51. He is also 24th in the 100 freestyle, posting a mark of 44.84, and 53rd in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.66. The 50 and 200 freestyle times are both school records. In the previous rankings, released in early November, Baseheart was ranked 33rd in the 100 freestyle and not ranked in either the 50 or the 200.

Procto, meanwhile, is ranked 72nd in the 200 backstroke with his school-record time of 1:50.66.

In addition, both Procto and Baseheart are members of four of the five relay teams that are also ranked in the top 75 in the nation. The 800 free relay team of Michael Belting, Peter Clark, Procto and Baseheart is ranked 39th in the nation with its time of 6:50.59, while the 200 free relay team of Kyle Fyock, Adam Steffes, Procto and Baseheart is 42nd in the country with a mark of 1:24.38. The 400 free relay team of Tim Watt, Steffes, Procto and Baseheart is 46th in 3:05.37. The fourth relay, the 400 medley relay team of Procto, Nick Bowers, Rob Vergeer and Baseheart, is ranked 56th with its time of 3:27.63. The fifth relay, the 200 medley relay, just missed being ranked in the top 75 with its top time of 1:37.99.

The Panthers return to action tomorrow with the Time Trial 100s in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Tomorrow's meet is slated to begin at 9 a.m. CST.