Big Ten Weekly Analysis: While Stars Are Away, Big Races Still Happen

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Photo Courtesy: Kara Sekenski

By Dan D’Addona.

While some of the biggest stars of the Big Ten were off competing in the USA College Challenge, meets went on in the Big Ten.

Several Big Ten teams were in action this week facing off against smaller teams across the Midwest.

And with so many stars gone, it allowed for plenty of other swimmers to step into starring roles.

This was a week that was vital to every team in action because it allowed several swimmers who would not normally be vying for first place in events to have some valuable experience at the top.

These are races that don’t make headlines. The swimmers are not household names. But these racing experiences could pay huge dividends at the Big Ten Championships.

Minnesota won its home invitational and Michigan State earned its first victory of the season. Here are some of the highlights:

Minnesota wins home invite

The Minnesota swim team earned a win in the Minnesota Invitational with a total of 1,411 points, well ahead of several club teams.

Daryl Turner won the 100 butterfly (47.16) and the 100 backstroke (47.93).

Michael Messner won the 1,650 freestyle (15:43.02). Bowe Becker won the 100 freestyle (43.91). Nick Orf won the 200-yard butterfly (1:50.23).

Chantal Nack won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:59.23.

Indiana sweeps Cincinnati

The No. 2 Indiana men team defeated Cincinnati 195-102 win, and the No. 13 women’s team earned a 187-106 victory.

Stephanie Marchuk won the 1,000 freestyle (10:00.14). Ali Rockett won the 100 backstroke (55.95). Reagan Cook won the 200 butterfly (2:02.1).

In the men’s meet, Marwan Elkamash won the 200 freestyle in 1:38.23. Wilson Beckman won the 100 backstroke (50.91). Max Irwin won the 200 butterfly (1:48.65). Sam Lorentz won the 50 freestyle (20.64) and the 100 free (45.47).

MSU beats Bowling Green

The Michigan State women’s swimming and diving team earned its first victory, 155-145, over Bowling Green at BGSU’s Cooper Pool on Friday, November 11.

Haley Kornburger won the 1,000 freestyle in 10:25.04.

In a close finish, sophomore Ellie Roche took the 100-yard breaststroke touching the pad at 1:04.56, just ahead of BGSU’s Kristin Filby who finished at 1:04.68.

Freshman Natalie Keshemberg kept it rolling for the Spartans, nabbing the third first-place finish of the night in the 200-yard butterfly. Junior Rachael Bukowski also recorded a first-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle, marking a finishing time of 23.45.

Roche grabbed her second event win of the night in the 11th event, the 200-yard breaststroke, touching the wall at the 2:19.76 mark. Kornburger followed up right after in the 500-yard freestyle also picking up her second victory of the night.

Ohio State beats Miami (Ohio)

The Buckeyes hosted the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks on Saturday afternoon for a dual meet and came away with a 211-84 victory

The women won 184-115.

On the diving boards, Colin Zeng remained undefeated on the season in individual events. He took home first place on both 1 and 3-meter with scores of 409.13 and 443.48, respectively.

Michael Salazar (1:40.49) won the 200 freestyle; Mark Belanger won for the second time of the day in the 100 backstroke with a time of 49.15; and Jack Barone touched the wall first in the 100 breaststroke (56.74). Brayden Seal won the 1,000 freestyle (9:24.65). Belanger earned his third first place finish of the day with a win in the 100 freestyle (45.86).

In the women’s meet, Molly Kowal won the 1,000 (10:10.83). Zulal Zeren won the 100 backstroke (55.98). Macie McNichols won the 50 freestyle (23.32) and the 100 freestyle (51.09). Maria Coy won the 200 IM in 2:05.92.

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