Michigan Swimming Sweeps Rival Ohio State in Big Ten Showdown

Michigan swept rival Ohio State. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan swimming and diving team won 12 of 16 events, cruising to a 190-110 road win over No. 16 Ohio State in a men’s meet on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 18) at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The Michigan women won as well.

It was the team’s seniors that led the way in the victory. Miles Smachlo took first in both the 100-yard butterfly (47.56) and 200-yard butterfly (1:44.94), while capping off his afternoon leading a 1-2-3 finish in the 200-yard IM (1:48.03). Tommy Cope, a native of nearby Dayton, Ohio, won the 100-yard breaststroke (53.12) and 200-yard breaststroke (1:54.87), garnering NCAA ‘B’ cuts with both swims, while Felix Auböck led a 1-2-3-4 finish in the 500-yard freestyle (4:21.40). All four swimmers were at the wall six seconds before the first Buckeye was, symbolizing the performance the Wolverines put up on Saturday.

The men led 95-36 at the halfway point and never looked back. Junior Luiz Gustavo Borges bookended the first break with NCAA ‘B’ cuts in the sprints, winning both the 50-yard freestyle (19.71) and 100-yard freestyle (43.52). In the 1,000-yard freestyle, it was juniors Ricardo Vargas (9:10.97) and Will Roberts (9:11.66) well ahead of the pack, touching nearly 15 seconds clear of third-place finisher Bora Unalmis (9:26.13).

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A pair of underclassmen also put up prime performances. Sophomore Patrick Callan led wire-to-wire in the 200-yard freestyle, holding off Ohio State All-American Paul Delakis for the win (1:35.44). Sophomore Eric Storms took advantage of some great underwaters to take the 100-yard backstroke (47.72).

The Wolverines also picked up a win in the 200-yard medley relay to begin the meet, as the foursome of Storms, sophomore Will Chan, Smachlo and Borges touched collectively at 1:26.10, winning by a second.

In the diving well, junior Ross Todd led the team on one-meter, finishing second (344.85), while junior Chris Canning was the team’s top finisher on three-meter, taking third (375.15).

Michigan Swimming wins women’s meet

The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan swimming and diving team got some clutch performances from its senior class down the stretch, pulling away from No. 18 Ohio State in a 165-135 road win on Saturday (Jan. 18) at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Following the 100-yard freestyle, U-M led by only 10 points despite winning six of the first eight events, but outscored the Buckeyes by a 56-20 margin in the next four events that followed, clinching the meet.

Sophomore Maggie MacNeil played a crucial role in the victory, winning three events in three different disciplines: the 100-yard backstroke (51.09), the 100-yard freestyle (48.10) and the 100-yard butterfly (52.12). All three times met the NCAA ‘B’ standard.

The turning point of the meet came in the 200-yard backstroke. With Michigan only up 10 points after MacNeil’s win in the 100-yard freestyle, senior captain Jacqui Schafer gutted out a wire-to-wire win, leading a 1-2-4-5 finish for the Wolverines. She touched at 1:58.65, followed by senior (and Ohio native) Chloe Hicks, sophomore Katie Minnich and freshman Mariella Venter. The Wolverines outscored the Buckeyes 16-3 in that event and extending its lead to 96-73.

Senior Miranda Tucker fed off that, rallying in the last 50 yards to overtake Ohio State’s Josie Panitz to win the 200-yard breaststroke (2:13.44). Panitz led by a second with 50 yards to go, but Tucker closed it 33.76, fueled by a great turn off the wall with 25 yards to go. Panitz faded, splitting 35.29. Tucker also won the 100-yard breaststroke earlier in the meet (1:00.89).

Freshman Kaitlynn Sims was also a double-event winner on Saturday, but it was her tough swim in the 500-yard freestyle that stood out. She was second to OSU’s Kathrin Demler for most of the race, but stuck on her hip through every turn. Sims finally made her move with 100 yards to go, overtaking Demler and touching her out for the narrow win (4:43.86). Sims also won the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:48.11), combining with junior Sierra Schmidt on a 1-2 finish.

One week after winning three events in her home debut, sophomore Olivia Carter continued her winning ways on Saturday, using a strong back-half to take the 200-yard butterfly (1:56.36).

The Wolverines also got a win in the 200-yard medley relay to begin the meet, clocking in at 1:37.38. MacNeil gave Michigan nearly a two-second lead after the first leg, splitting 23.60. Tucker, junior Claire Maiocco and junior Daria Pyshnenko brought home the win.

Sophomore Allie Klein led the way in the diving well, headlining a 1-3-4 finish on three-meter (313.75) along with juniors Nikki Canale (295.50) and Camryn McPherson (291.55). Klein was also the team’s top finisher on one-meter, taking third (279.00).

NEXT: Michigan finishes the regular season on Friday, Jan. 31, hosting Michigan State for Senior Night at Canham Natatorium. The combined men’s and women’s dual meet will begin at 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Ohio State winners

• Sophomore Sally Tafuto took first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:49.55.

• Junior Freya Rayner won the 50 freestyle with an NCAA “B” qualifying time of :22.55.

• Freshman Thomas Watkins placed first in the 200 backstroke with an NCAA “B” standard time of 1:44.91.

• Divers Joseph Canova and Jacob Fielding went one-two on the three-meter springboard, while Lyle Yost took first on one-meter.

• Mackenzie Crawford won on women’s one-meter with Genevieve Angerame second.

• Freshmen Josie Panitz and Hannah Bach, and junior Hanna Gresser, all reached NCAA “B” qualifying standards in the 100 breaststroke with Panitz second in 1:01.30.

• Panitz also took second in the 200 breaststroke with her second “B” cut of the day (2:13.94).

• Junior Paul Delakis hit an NCAA “B” qualifying standard with a time of 1:35.74 in the 200 freestyle, good for second place.

• Sophomore Jason Matthews finished second in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events and made NCAA “B” qualifying standards in each race (:53.56 in the 100 and 1:57.68 in the 200).

• Senior Kathrin Demler won the 200 individual medley in a “B” qualifying standard time of 1:59.43.

• Demler and junior Katie Trace finished second and third, respectively, in the 200 butterfly with NCAA “B” qualifying times of 1:57.02 and 1:59.14.

• And Demler was also second in the 500 freestyle in 4:44.15, giving her a total of three “B” standards during the meet.

• Senior Noah Lense hit the “B” standard in the 200 butterfly with a second-place swim in 1:46.39.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Michigan Swimming and Ohio State swimming. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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