Max McHugh Paces Minnesota Men in Victory Over Purdue

Max McHugh -- Photo Courtesy: Luke Jamroz Photography

Max McHugh Paces Minnesota Men in Victory Over Purdue

The Minnesota men’s swimming and diving team opened its 2021-22 season Friday by going on the road and securing a 178.5-121.5 victory over Purdue at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center in West Lafayette, Ind.

“It was fun to open the season with a very good team Purdue team on the road and come away with a win,” head coach Kelly Kremer said. “I’m proud of our men for how they competed today, and excited about the potential this team has.”

The Golden Gophers won the first six swimming events of the evening and came in first in 10 of 14 overall. In addition, Minnesota swept the diving portion of the competition as junior Jake Butler claimed both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards with scores of 363.90 and 401.18, respectively.

Senior Max McHugh was a part of three victories Friday to lead Minnesota. He began his night by serving as the second leg in the opening 400 medley relay (3:15.24), winning the event with junior Desmon Sachtjen, redshirt senior Tom Donker and redshirt sophomore Lucas Farrar.

The defending national champion in the 100 and 200 breast, McHugh later posted NCAA ‘B’ cuts in both events, winning the 100 in 53.34 and 200 in 1:57.05.

McHugh was one of four Gophers to win multiple events Friday. Joining him were Sachtjen, fellow junior Gavin Olson and freshman Bar Soloveychik.

Sachtjen held off Olson by .21 seconds to win the 100 back with a time of 49.48, while Olson flipped the script by winning the 200 back in 1:48.46 and Sachtjen finishing runner up. Olson also touched the wall first in the 200 IM at 1:52.62.

A native of Kiryat Motzkin, Israel, Soloveychik made his collegiate debut by winning both the 200 free (1:39.20) and the 500 free (4:30.77).

Sophomore Chris Nagy posted the first win of his career by taking home first place in the 1000 free, winning by over four seconds against the competition.

Minnesota’s other winner on the night was sophomore Kaiser Neverman, whose time of 1:50.46 gave him the victory in the 200 fly.

Full Results

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the University of Minnesota. For press releases and advertising inquiries, please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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