Michigan Sweeps Wisconsin to Open Season

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, September 29.THE University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team opened the 2012-13 season in dominating fashion, winning 14-of-16 events en route to a 172.5-115.5 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday (Sept. 29) at Canham Natatorium. Juniors Connor Jaeger (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) and Jack Lee (North Egremont, Mass./Berkshire School), sophomore Richard Funk (Edmonton, Alberta/Strathcona) and freshman Dylan Bosch (Johannesburg, South Africa/Crawford College, Sandton) each won two individual events to pace the Wolverines, who have won 44 of their last 45 season-opening dual meets.

In his first collegiate meet back after swimming at the 2012 London Olympics, Jaeger was in midseason form, beating the field by close to 13 seconds in the 500-yard freestyle (4:30.32) and by more than 15 seconds in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:18.16), claiming first-place finishes in both races. Funk took first in both the 100-yard breaststroke (55.23) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:02.77), while Bosch won both the 100-yard butterfly (48.92) and 200-yard butterfly (1:46.77). Lee swept the diving competition, winning on one-meter (331.50) and three-meter (336.25).

Freshman Paul Soley (Lebanon, N.J./Mother of Divine Grace) took second to Jaeger in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:33.60) and also placed third in the 500-yard freestyle (4:40.83). Freshman Peter Brumm (Cornelius, N.C./Hough) also scored an event win in his first collegiate meet, leading a U-M quartet to first-through-fourth finishes in the 200-yard freestyle (1:38.75). Freshman Reid Elliott (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis) nearly had a victory of his own but finished second to Wisconsin's Drew TeDuits in the 100-yard backstroke by just two-hundredths of a second.

The Wolverines showcased their speed and depth in the sprint freestyle races, claiming wins in each of the three events. The group was bolstered by the addition of fifth-year senior Zachary Turk (Akron, Ohio/St. Edwards), a 14-time national champion at NCAA D-III Kenyon College (2009-12). Turk won the 50-yard freestyle (20.23) and finished second to sophomore Bruno Ortiz (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International) in the 100-yard freestyle (45.69) while also swimming as the anchor leg on both the winning 200-yard medley relay (1:29.09) and 400-yard freestyle relay (3:02.03). Ortiz won the 100-yard freestyle (45.44) and had the second-fastest time in the 50-yard freestyle (20.48). Also returning to the squad this year is senior/junior Hassaan Abdel Khalik (Mississauga, Ontario/Silverthorn Collegiate), who redshirted last season to train for the Olympics. Abdel Khalikfinished second to Brumm in the 200-yard freestyle (1:38.92) while also finishing with the second-fastest time in the 500-yard freestyle (4:34.58).

Junior Kyle Whitaker (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) was the other individual-event winner of the day, winning the 200-yard individual medley by more than six seconds (1:50.21).

In addition to Lee's first-place finishes in the diving well, two others had top-three finishes. Junior James Ross (Richmond, Va./Collegiate School) was second on one-meter (277.95) and sophomore Kevin Bain (Northville, Mich./Northville) was third on three-meter (292.65).

Michigan returns to Canham Natatorium next weekend for a pair of events, squaring off against Minnesota on Friday (Oct. 5) at 5 p.m. before participating in the first-ever Michigan Water Carnival next Saturday (Oct. 6) at noon. Admission is free for both events.

Thanks to a 1-2-3 finish in the 200-yard individual medley, the University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team held on to defeat Wisconsin, 157-143, in the 2012-13 opener on Saturday (Sept. 29) at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines led by one point (123-122) heading into the race but grabbed 16 of the available 19 points in the race to put some distance between themselves and the visiting Badgers.

Junior Courtney Beidler (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock South) won the 200 IM with a time of 2:04.44 and was followed by junior Melissa Lang (Edison, N.J./Bishop George) in second (2:06.22) and freshman Marni Oldershaw (Oakville, Ontario/Iroquios Ridge) in third (2:06.49). Wisconsin got 13 points back in the final race by virtue of first- and third-place finishes in the 400-yard freestyle relay, but that was cancelled out after the scores from the one-meter diving competition were included. Sophomore Carey Chen (Vancouver, British Columbia/University Hill Secondary), junior Erin Bridgewater (Kawkawlin, Mich./Bay City Western) and sophomore Marina Nazario (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) combined to take 14 of the possible 19 points, sealing the Michigan victory. Chen led the group with a first-place finish (293.55), followed by Bridgewater in second (284.25) and Nazario in fifth (245.17).

Freshman Ali DeLoof (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) was the first of five individual swimming event winners, taking first in the 100-yard backstroke (56.44). The Wolverines went on to win three more individual swimming events in convincing fashion, starting with junior Angela Chokran (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North), who won both the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.78) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:18.64). Senior Adrienne Bicek (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) was also a winner, taking first in the 500-yard freestyle (4:57.24).

Depth was also a key component in the day's victory, as Michigan swimmers took the second and third places in four races. Freshman Jessica Wolf (Waukesha, Wis./Muskego) led a trio in the 1,000-yard freestyle, taking second (10:09.18) in her first collegiate race, while Bicek and sophomore Michelle Stefandl (Princeton, N.J./Stuart Country Day School) took third (10:09.38) and fourth (10:19.01), respectively. The other 2-3 finishes for Michigan came in the 200-yard freestyle with senior Deirdre Jones (Nashville, Tenn./University School of Nashville) and freshman Zoe Mattingly (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville); in the 200-yard butterfly from Beidler and senior Kally Fayhee (North Aurora, Ill./Rosary); and in the 200-yard backstroke with Oldershaw and fellow freshman Marie Georger (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep). Michigan also finished second in both the 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.

In addition to their 1-2 finish on one-meter, Chen and Bridgewater were also among the top two on three-meter, with Bridgewater taking first (300.08) and Chen finishing second (292.80).

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.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use