Aggies Win Reveille Invitational

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Nov. 3. THE Texas A&M men's swimming team kept its undefeated streak alive with a 1,175.5-953.5 defeat of Southern Methodist University at the Reveille Invitational at the Student Rec Center Natatorium on Saturday.

Despite exhibitioning (not scoring) the final two events and suffering a double disqualification on one relay, the Aggies increased their margin of victory over the Mustangs from 173 to 222 on the final day. A&M swimmers also captured all three individual events, giving them sweep for the entire meet.

The Aggies began the final day with a 1-2-3 finish in the 800-yard medley relay. The team of Patrick Kennedy, Alfredo Jacobo, Scott Hansen and Scott Mueller beat out the foursome of Riley Janes, Zach Widener, Joel Travnicek and Josh Hill 7:38.84 to 7:44.73.

In the 25 freestyle, the fastest event possible in the pool, the maroon-and-white earned another sweep of the top three spots. Janes, the five-time All-American, outraced freshman Robbie Taylor 9.58 to 9.69. Sophomore Matt Rose finished third at 9.73.

In perhaps the most taxing, as well as most dramatic, event of the meet, the 1000 freestyle relay, the duo of Patrick Dideum and Scott Mueller outtouched SMU's Michael Jacobssen and Chris Epp by less than one-half second in an eight minute-plus race. The Aggies swam a time of 8:22.24 to the Mustangs' 8:22.65. In this race, each swimmer alternated swimming 100-yard legs five times each.

Patrick Kennedy, a winner in the 800 medley relay, led A&M to a 1-2-3-4 finish in the 400 backstroke. Kennedy's time of 3:56.92 outdistanced that of teammate Josh Hill, who clocked in at 4:02.55.

After nearly wining the quarter-mile backstroke, Hill returned to the pool in the very next event and teamed with Scott Hansen and Joel Travnicek to win the 900 butterfly relay. The trio outswam SMU's "A" team 8:17.29 to 8:35.12.

SMU claimed first and second in the 900 breaststroke relay after both A&M teams were disqualified for leaving early on the relay exchanges.

Despite exhibitioning the final individual event, the 800 individual medley, A&M swimmers claimed each of the top two spots. Scott Mueller hit the wall first in a time of 8:35.13, while Kennedy was a distant second in 8:52.79. Officially, SMU's Jacob Rodriquez was first in a time of 8:54.28.

In the day's final event, the 500 freestyle relay (which A&M also exhibitioned), the Aggies were first in a time of 3:29.64. SMU, which was officially first, placed second in 3:34.72.

"This meet was so much better than we thought it would be," said head coach Mel Nash. "The toughness that our kids showed was really head and shoulders above what we were hoping for. Across the board, our people kept coming strong event after event after event. What Scott Hansen did with his small bout of mono bodes well for what he'll do when completely healthy. Scott Mueller was quietly outstanding, winning the 800 IM and continually passing people on relays. Josh Hill and Matt Day showed exceptional toughness in swimming the 400 back and coming right back and swimming the 900 fly."

Texas A&M will take two weeks off before returning to the pool on Nov. 16-18 at the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington.

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