Though the record will show a tie, count Indiana's Ray Looze as a winner following today's dual meet between Michigan and Indiana.  After an apparent 151-149 victory over the Wolverines, Indiana would have had cause for celebration.  That was until Indiana head coach Ray Looze realized that Todd Patrick who had been entered in five events (four individual and one relay) was not designated as exhibition.  Realizing the, Looze notified the officials who subsequently disqualified the junior from his final event, the 100 butterfly.  Patrick's fifth-place, one-point finish was erased and ceded to Michigan freshman Chris Dukatz (Troy, Mich./Birmingham Brother Rice) the fifth fastest scored time. The one point swing evened the score at 150 to conclude certainly the most bizarre finishes in Big Ten Competiion.

"In my ten years, I've never seen a meet that close." said Michigan head coach Bob Bowman, "It was a very exciting meet. When you consider that our team is so young and that this is an Indiana team that dominated us at the Big Ten Championships last year.  Indeed, the score will prove insiginifcant for two opponents that gained immeasurable experience.  Consider that the youthful Wolverines erased a 26-point deficit over the final two events while Indiana gained a measure of respect among their opponents. "Hats off to Indiana for the way that they handle themselves and the way that they competed," said Bowman. 

By storming back, the Wolverines were able to preserve a 38 meet undefeated streak against Big Ten competition.  Their last meet came when the Hoosiers surprised the Wolverines 137-106 at home, January 29, 1999.

Indiana jumped out to an early 11-6 lead with a win in the 200-medley relay.  following the 200-yard medley relay. Both teams posted season-bests in the event but Michigan got a pivotal anchor split of 20.61 out of Charlie Houchin to secure the two third-place points - points that would, among many others, turn out to be key.

Michigan rallied back when Matt Patton claimed the win in the 1650 freestyle, but the Wolverines couldn't capitalize on it.  JK Koehler, Alex Brunfeldt, and Ryan McNeill dropped an average of thirteen seconds from their season bests, to minimize the damage with a 2-3-4 finish.  

The Wolverines were able grab a 28-21 lead after the 200-yard freestyle, when Bobby Savulich put away Todd Patrick in the final 50.  The pair were tied 3/4 of the way, but Savulich pulled away for the win, with teammate Houchin touching third.

Indiana began to pull away following back-to-back wins in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.  Ben Hesen won the backstroke easily while Pat Penoyar topped last week's National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week Scott Spann.  The victories gave Indiana a three-touchdown lead with just five events into the meet.

 

That was until Alex Vanderkaay made his appearance.  The Junior led a 1-2-3 finish for Michigan.  Patton and Curtis Dauw pulled ahead of Michigan-native Nick Walkotten to cut the lead to eight.

Just as Indiana minimized the damage in the 1650, so too did Michigan in the 50.  Hoosier newcomer Matt Lenton won the sprint.  The Australian was ahead of Chris Brady, but the freshman squeezed ahead of Todd Patrick while Savulich and Ryser got into the points.   

As expected, Indiana dominated the boards with Taylor Roberts leading the way.  The Hoosiers outscored Michigan 31-7 in the two events - one place away from a clean sweep.  

With Michigan down 81-69 going into the 100-yard freestyle, Bobby Savulich again put Todd Patrick away in the final leg to get his second victory of the day. 

The win cut the gap to nine and seemingly put the Wolverines within striking distance once again, but Indiana was able to answer the call with backstroke and breaststroke.  Hesen won the 200 back to complete the dorsal double while Penoyar erased an early lead by Spann to take the 200 breaststroke. 

That put the Hoosier lead at 19 before Charlie Houchin and Alex Vanderkaay finished 1-2, respectively, in the 500-yard freestyle to cut the gap to ten.  Again, IU turned to Hesen and again the Junior delivered with a victory in the 100 butterfly.   With four times under 50.0, the race was fast by nearly any measure, but the fate of the meet was decided by a pair of 52's.  Here Patrick, swimming in his fourth individual event, was ruled exhibition, thus ceding the fifth-place point to Chris Dukatz - a point that would ultimately affect the win-loss (tie) records of both teams.

With diving added in, the meet was effectively over as Indiana headed into the break with a 145-119 lead. In the simplest terms, any win by an IU swimmer over Michigan, whether for first, second, or even fifth, would give the Hoosiers the victory.

Perhaps it was talent, or competitiveness, or the influence of Volunteer Assistant/400 IM World-Record Hoder Michael Phelps, but whatever it was, Andre Schultz, Dane Grenda, and Vanderkaay put up a 1-2-3 finish.  Those sixteen points put the Indana lead at a daunting, yet still manageable 13, putting the score at a daunting-but still tieable 135-148.

To get that tie, however Michigan still needed a 1-2 finish in the 800 freestyle relay.  Had the teams swum the more-traditional 400 free relay the meet would have certainly favored the Hoosiers, but in the 800, opportunity knocked and the Wolverines answered.  Michigan put up not one, but two sub 6:50 relays, with the win going to the team of Savulich, Evan Ryser, Houchin and Vanderkaay in 6:45.27.  Indiana was unable to get anyone under 1:43 and fell back to a distant third - place 6:57.20.

The going will be a little easier for the Hoosiers next week as they face Missouri in a Senior-Day matchup.  Michigan will take a week long hiatus before traveling to Columbus, Ohio to take on Ohio State and Northwestern at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on Fri-Sat. Jan. 26-27. Friday's action will start at 6 p.m. and Saturday's events will begin at 1 p.m.