Connor Jaeger Leads Michigan to Dominant Day One Against Ohio State

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, February 1. JUNIOR Connor Jaeger (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) set a new facility record in the 1,000-yard freestyle (8:59.17) to help stake the top-ranked University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team to a commanding 140-24 lead over No. 10 Ohio State on Friday (Feb. 1), the first part of a two-day dual meet at Canham Natatorium. Jaeger, who was swimming in his first competition in nearly a month, shattered former Wolverine Chris Thompson's 13-year old record of 8:59.59, set in 2000.

The Wolverines got off to a dominant start and never looked back, taking first and second place in the 400-yard medley relay. The 'A' team of senior Miguel Ortiz (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International), sophomore Richard Funk (Edmonton, Alberta/Strathcona), junior John Wojciechowski (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix Brophy Prep) and graduate student Zachary Turk (Akron, Ohio/St. Edwards) were first, touching the wall at 3:11.04. Following that group was the U-M 'B' squad, as senior Sean Fletcher (Vienna, Va./James Madison), sophomore Bruno Ortiz (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International), freshman Dylan Bosch (Johannesburg, South Africa/Crawford College, Sandton) and senior Roman Willets (Whitehouse, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) took second at 3:15.16. Both relay teams finished considerably further ahead than Ohio State's top relay team (3:19.51).

Michigan had a near-flawless run in the three freestyle events on Friday. Following Jaeger in the 1,000-yard freestyle was senior Ryan Feeley (Rye, N.Y./Rye) in second (9:04.18) and junior Sean Ryan (Hixson, Tenn./McCallie School) in third (9:07.00). The Wolverines went 1-2-3-4 in the 200-yard freestyle, led by junior Michael Wynalda (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville). Wynalda was first (1:36.13), followed by freshman Anders Lie (Vanloese, Denmark) in second (1:36.99), sophomore Justin Glanda (Rochester Hills, Mich./Cranbrook Kingswood) in third (1:37.42) and senior/junior Hassaan Abdel Khalik (Mississauga, Ontario/Silverthorn Collegiate) in fourth (1:39.42). The 50-yard freestyle was the final event before the break, with Turk taking first at 19.89, followed by M. Ortiz (20.09) in second and senior Evan Gregg (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg) in third (20.43). The Wolverines also took 1-2 in the 400-yard freestyle relay to close the meet, as the 'A' quartet of Turk, Fletcher, B. Ortiz and Wynalda took top honors (2:56.51), while the 'B' grouping of Lie, Glanda, Abdel Khalik and Willets came in second (2:58.70).

The Wolverines went 1-2 in the next three races, including Fletcher (48.62) and M. Ortiz (48.85) in the 100-yard backstroke, Funk (53.80) and B. Ortiz (55.44) in the 100-yard breaststroke, and Wojciechowski (1:45.18) and Bosch (1:45.60) in the 200-yard butterfly. Michigan also had two other places in the 200-yard butterfly, as those spots were held by junior Kyle Whitaker (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) in third (1:46.71) and freshman Peter Brumm (Cornelius, N.C./Hough) in fourth (1:48.01).

Ohio State did not bring its divers to the meet, giving Michigan control of first, second and third place on both boards. On one-meter, junior Thomas Jahnke (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) took top honors, finishing first (357.75), followed by sophomore Kevin Bain (Northville, Mich./Northville) in second (333.52) and junior Nate Rietberg (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) in third (327.00). Career-high scores were set on three-meter, led by juniors Jack Lee (North Egremont, Mass./The Berkshire School) and James Ross (Richmond, Va./Collegiate School). Lee scored 420.67, while Ross was in second at 380.62. Jahnke finished third (351.30).

The second half of the dual meet will begin tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 2) at noon at Canham Natatorium. Prior to the start of the meet, Michigan will honor its nine-member senior class in a Senior Day ceremony.

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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