After Handling Wildcats from North(western), Hoosiers Men Unable to Handle Wildcats to Their South (Kentucky)

BLOOMINGTON, IN, November 8. THE No. 13 Indiana men's swimming and diving squad split its double dual meet with No. 15 Kentucky and Southwest Missouri State over the weekend, according to IU reports.

The Hoosiers fell to the Wildcats, 148-95, while defeating the Bears, 185-58, on Nov. 6 in the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Ind. Overall, IU moved to 5-2 this season.

Kentucky claimed all but two of the 14 event titles, as the wet Wildcats lead by IU Olympian Gary Connelly continues on the strong improvement grade they have been climbing the last several years.

IU was led by junior Sergiy Fesenko and senior Marc Carlton, each picking up one event crown.

"We did not swim well today," Head Coach Ray Looze said. "We can do much better. Although, we did what we planned to do in swimming two tough teams back-to-back with Northwestern coming in last night. We just needed to do better on the second meet. We will get back to the drawing board on Monday morning."

In the first event of the contest, IU took a 15-2 lead over SMS, but trailed Kentucky 11-6 after the 400-yard medley relay. UK's Alejandro Bravo, Kristian Outinen, Daniel Cruz and Daniel Farnham finished in first with a 3:18.35, while Indiana's team of freshman Ben Hesen, junior Kevin Swander, junior Thomas Clavier and sophomore Colin Russell took second in 3:18.79. Hesen's 100-yard backstroke leadoff of 50.06 was a personal best, while IU's squad of junior Mike Jones, junior Hank Baldwin, sophomore Scott Tanner and senior David Winck finished in third with a 3:26.24.

In the initial individual swim of the meet, Fesenko won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:17.66, while freshman Alex Brunfeldt posted a personal-best 9:23.91 to take second. Indiana also finished in third when freshman John Kevin Koehler clocked a 9:34.66. At the completion of the marathon event, IU led Kentucky, 22-14, and SMS, 31-5, while Kentucky was ahead of SMS, 29-7.

In the 200-yard freestyle, Kentucky countered as Steven Manley posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:38.90, while Cruz took second in 1:39.72. IU's Russell finished in third with a 1:40.49. At the end of the event, Kentucky led IU, 29-26, and SMS, 45-10, while IU was ahead of SMS, 45-10.

In the 50-yard freestyle, Kentucky stretched its lead over IU to 42-32, and over SMS to 59-15, while Indiana led SMS, 61-13. UK's Tim Patrick and Clay Gasparovich finished in the top two with times of 20.39 and 20.58, respectively, while IU's Ruth took third in 21.15. Also of note, sophomore Ryan Millard notched a personal-best time of 22.21 in a non-scoring effort.

In the 200-yard IM, Kentucky bolstered its lead as Manley and Jerram Chudleigh finished first and second with times of 1:49.90 and 1:49.99. SMS's Matt Beasley placed third with a 1:51.33. With the performance, UK pushed its lead over IU to 56-37, and SMS, 74-19, while IU continued to lead SMS, 70-23.

In the diving break, Carlton claimed the three-meter title with a 329.75, while UK's Ben Starchuck took second with a 301.40. IU senior Alex Burns took third with a 292.45, while freshman Taylor Roberts placed fourth with a 292.35. UK's Mario Rodriguez wound up in fifth with a 290.60. Each of these marks cleared the NCAA zone qualifying standard. At the end of the event, Kentucky led IU, 61-51, and SMS, 88-24, while IU was ahead of SMS, 86-26.

In the 200-yard butterfly, UK's Cruz finished in first in 1:45.71, while his teammate Chudleigh took second in 1:50.49. IU's Halasz and Fesenko tied for third with matching 1:52.87 clockings. At the end of the event, Kentucky led IU, 74-57, and SMS, 104-27, while IU was ahead of SMS, 102-29.

In the 100-yard freestyle, Kentucky swept the top two spots with Farnham (44.57) in first and Tim Patrick (45.61) in second. SMS's Antonov took third in 45.86. At the completion of the event, Kentucky pushed its lead to 89-61 over Indiana and 119-31 over SMS, while IU led SMS, 110-40.

In the 200-yard backstroke, Chudleigh picked up the title for UK in 1:47.28, while IU won the next two spots with Jones in second with a 1:50.93 and Hesen in third in 1:51.12. With that effort, Kentucky pulled ahead of IU, 100-69, and SMS, 134-35, while IU moved in front of SMS, 126-43. Also of note, Jensen recorded a career-low time of 2:00.51 for ninth place.

In the 500-yard freestyle, Manley snared another event title with a 4:29.17, while IU's Brunfeldt took second in career-low 4:36.11 and Koehler placed third in personal-best 4:36.67. At the end of the event, Kentucky led IU, 100-69, and SMS, 134-35, while IU was ahead of SMS, 126-43. Additionally, Chambers registered a career-best 4:45.98 in a non-scoring performance.

In the final diving break, IU cut Kentucky's lead to 123-84, while the Wildcats led SMS, 165-42. The Hoosiers also stretched their lead to 158-49 over Southwest Missouri State. Starchuck won the one-meter title with a 311.80, while Carlton snagged runner-up status with a 311.75 tally. UK's Rodriguez picked up third place with a 293.20. All marks eclipsed the NCAA zone qualifying standard.

"Kentucky's [diving] coach, Michael Lyden, is a good coach and he did a nice job with his team," Head Diving Coach Dr. Jeff Huber said. "We do not have any excuses because we can dive better and we will dive better. For our team, today was the 11th practice of the week for them. The meets are good for us to compare how well we are doing against other divers."

In the 200-yard breaststroke, UK's Outinen placed first with a 2:03.31, while Swander finished in second with a 2:03.73. Additionally, SMS's Seth Johnson took third in 2:06.44. Overall, Kentucky led IU, 135-91, and SMS, 179-47, while IU led SMS, 172-54, after the event. Also of note, Hehn clocked a career-low 2:16.02 in the event in a non-scoring performance.

In the final event of the meet, Kentucky's Patrick, Gasparovish, Mark Doyle and Daniel Farnham won the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:00.08, while Indiana's team of Patrick, Russell, Clavier and Houchin finished in second with a 3:02.58 clocking. SMS's squad of Antonov, Beasley, Ignacio Bayo and Eric Ertl placed third with a 3:03.38.

At the conclusion of all competition, Kentucky downed Indiana, 148-95, and Southwest Missouri State, 192-51, while Indiana defeated SMS, 185-58.

Next up, the Cream and Crimson play host to the Indiana Invitational Nov. 19-21 in the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.

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