Savulich's Two Victories Spring Michigan Past No. 7 Indiana

After a six-week break junior Bobby Savulich (Edison, N.J./Saint Joseph) won his first two events, posting an NCAA consideration time in the first, as the No. 4 University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team defeated No. 7 Indiana 165-133 Saturday (Jan. 12), scoring victories in nine events at Canham Natatorium.

The Wolverines began the day by finishing second in the 200-yard medley relay with an NCAA consideration time of 1:29.04, but Indiana outscored them by taking first and third place. Junior Matt Patton (Matthews, N.C./Butler HS) and sophomore Charlie Houchin (Raleigh, N.C./William G. Enloe HS) evened things out in the next event, touching the wall first and second with NCAA consideration times of 15:20.90 and 15:31.57, respectively, in the 1,650-yard freestyle.

Savulich then won the 200-yard freestyle with an NCAA 'B' time of 1:37.16 thanks to a sizzling performance in the final lap to pass Indiana senior Todd Patrick and claim victory by 0.1 of a second and bring the packed house to its feet. Sophomore André Schultz (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Palmares) and junior Sal Barba (Hudson, Mass./St. Johns HS) finished third (1:38.81) and fourth (1:40.07), respectively, to give Michigan a lead it would never surrender.

Senior Alex Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) then led the Wolverines to the first of two sweeps on the day, touching the wall first with a time of 1:49.07 in the 200-yard butterfly. Patton and freshman Tony Wahl (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Jesuit HS) followed second and third with times 1:49.61 and 1:51.28, respectively.

Patton later touched the wall first (4:28.78) in 500-yard freestyle to lead the Wolverines to their second sweep. Patton was followed by senior Johnny Austermann (Huntington Woods, Mich./Berkley HS) in second (4:31.58) and Schultz in third (4:32.41).

Sophomore Scott Spann (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS) capped the day for Michigan, posting two victories with NCAA consideration times in the 100- (54.91) and 200-yard (1:58.55) breaststroke events.