Michigan Wolverines Sweep Orange Bowl Classic

KEY LARGO, Florida, January 3. THE top-ranked University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team wrapped up its annual semester training trip at two locations in Florida on Thursday (Jan. 3). The swimmers won the Orange Bowl Classic at the Jacobs Aquatic Center in Key Largo, Fla., while the divers competed at the Mike Peppe Invitational at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The Wolverines claimed the title at the Orange Bowl Classic after winning all 12 events and setting 10 new meet records. Nine different men won races, while senior Sean Fletcher (Vienna, Va./James Madison) won a pair, taking top honors in the 50-meter butterfly (24.10) and 50-meter backstroke (25.78).

In his first race back with Michigan following an appearance for Team USA at the 2012 FINA Short Course World Championships last month in Turkey, senior Ryan Feeley (Rye, N.Y./Rye) took first in the 400-meter freestyle (3:54.51), with junior Sean Ryan (Hixson, Tenn./McCallie School) following him in second (3:59.07). Senior Miguel Ortiz (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International) continued his strong season with a win in the 100-meter backstroke (54.76), while his younger brother, sophomore Bruno Ortiz (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International), won the 50-meter breaststroke (28.05). The Ortiz brothers also tied for second in the 50-meter freestyle (22.88), an event that was won by graduate student Zachary Turk (Akron, Ohio/St. Edwards) at 22.69.

The Wolverines went 1-2-3 in several races, including the 100-meter freestyle, 50-meter backstroke and 100-meter breaststroke. Junior Michael Wynalda (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville) took first in the 100-meter freestyle (50.22), followed by senior Roman Willets (Whitehouse, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) in second (50.92) and sophomore Justin Glanda (Rochester Hills, Mich./Cranbrook Kingswood) in third (51.21). Fletcher was followed in the 50-meter backstroke by freshman Reid Elliott (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis) in second (26.68) and junior Ryutaro Kamiya (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International) in third (26.84). Sophomore Richard Funk (Edmonton, Alberta/Strathcona) added a win of his own, winning the 100-meter breaststroke (1:01.34). Junior Kyle Duckitt (Johannesburg, South Africa/St. John's College) followed in second (1:04. 05) and freshman Matt McNamara (Huntington Woods, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) was third (1:05.67).

The other winner on the day was junior John Wojciechowski (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix Brophy Prep), as he finished first in the 100-meter butterfly (53.56). Freshman Dylan Bosch (Johannesburg, South Africa/Crawford College, Sandton) was second (55.15).

The Michigan divers competed on the one-meter board at the Mike Pepe Invitational. Juniors James Ross (Richmond, Va./Collegiate School) and Jack Lee (North Egremont, Mass./Berkshire School) led the charge, finishing first (321.65) and second (318.35), respectively. Freshman Timothy Faerber (Potomac, Md./Churchill) was the other top-five finisher, taking fourth (302.90).

The No. 24-ranked University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team concluded its annual semester training trip at two Florida locations on Thursday (Jan. 3). The swimmers took home the Orange Bowl Classic title at the Jacobs Aquatic Center in Key Largo, while the divers competed at the Mike Pepe Invitational at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center in Fort Lauderdale.

The Wolverines won all 12 races at the Orange Bowl Classic, setting new meet records in 10 of them. Senior Deirdre Jones (Nashville, Tenn./University School of Nashville) and freshman Marni Oldershaw (Oakville, Ontario/Iroquois Ridge) each won a pair of races, with Jones sweeping the 50-meter freestyle (26.50) and 100-meter freestyle (57.64), while Oldershaw claimed the 50-meter breaststroke (32.79) and 200-meter individual medley (2:16.73).

A trio of swimmers scored wins and second-place finishes on the afternoon. Junior Angela Chokran (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) won the 100-meter breaststroke (1:12.61) and finished second in the 50-meter breaststroke (32.87). Freshman Ali DeLoof (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) took top honors in the 100-meter backstroke (1:02.18) and finished second in the 50-meter backstroke (29.40). Freshman Zoe Mattingly (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) sped to the 50-meter butterfly title (28.44) and was runner-up in the 50-meter freestyle (26.87).

Other top performers included senior Adrienne Bicek (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) in the 400-meter freestyle (4:16.17), senior Ashley Cohagen (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) in the 100-meter butterfly (1:02.67) and sophomore Claudia Lau (Hong Kong, China/Diocesan Girls' School) in the 50-meter backstroke (29.32). Junior Nikki Hubbard (Granger, Ind./Penn) also had a strong swim in the 100-meter breaststroke, taking second (1:13.27).

Junior Erin Bridgewater (Kawkawlin, Mich./Bay City Western) was one of seven U-M divers to compete on the one-meter board at the Mike Pepe Invitational, scoring a team-high fourth-place finish (274.10). The Wolverines also had four others finish inside the top 10, including Fort Lauderdale native Marina Nazario (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) in sixth (254.45), junior Brianna Maroukis (Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Northern) in seventh (245.50), sophomore Emily Boyd (Monrovia, Calif./Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy) in eighth (244.30) and freshman Sarah Kamstra (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland West) in ninth (244.30).

Michigan returns to action next Saturday (Jan. 12) when it takes on Notre Dame and Northwestern in a double-dual meet in South Bend, Ind. The meet will begin at 1 p.m.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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