Opposites Strive for Same Goal in Freestyle Events
Ted Hollahan of Cal State Northridge and Hilton Woods of Oakland (Mich.) University seemingly have one--and only one--common thread: Each considers himself the best 100- and 200-yard freestyler in college division swimming.
Which of them is correct will be settled in the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships currently under way at the State University of New York at Buffalo natatorium.
Woods, from the island of Curacao, off Venezuela, was a 1988 Olympian. Competing for the Netherlands Antilles, he placed ninth in the 50-yard freestyle and 15th in the 100-yard event.
Hollahan, from Denver, is equally adept at creating waves in the pool and on the stage. He is a hard-rock bass guitarist who was leader of a band called Single File.
Swimming was, at first, simply a vehicle Hollahan used to pay for a college education. Since losing two of three races against Woods last season, it has become a passion.
And still he is less serious about it than Woods.
“Woods is a swimmer’s swimmer,” Northridge Coach Pete Accardy said. “Ted is training better than he’s ever trained, but compared to many swimmers, that’s still not great.”
Accardy credits Woods for fueling Hollahan’s fire. Woods beat Hollahan in the 50 and 200 freestyles in last year’s nationals and was only one-hundredth of a second behind in the 100-yard event.
“Ted may not be as dedicated as Woods, but he is a competitor and he doesn’t like to lose,” Accardy said. “I think he wants to prove he’s the better swimmer.”
Indeed, Hollahan makes little effort to veil his feelings.
“I’m back for revenge this time,” Hollahan said. “I want to do everything in a big way. I don’t just want to win. I want to win big.”
After setting Division II records in the 100 (44.65) and 200 (1:37.37) as a sophomore in 1988, Hollahan figured he could phone in the return engagements.
“Basically, I slacked off the whole year,” Hollahan said.
Woods, a junior, has been careful not to repeat his rival’s mistake. If anything, he said, it has made him work that much harder.
“It kind of puts you on the edge when everybody is trying to knock you off,” Woods said. “Every time out, it’s seven on one. I know (Hollahan) will give me a run for the money, but the others will too.”
