Wolverines Cruise to Big Ten Title

Gophers Finish Third At Big Ten Championships
The University of Minnesota men's swimming and diving team finished third at the Big Ten Championships this evening at Purdue's Boilermaker Aquatic Complex. The Gophers finished with 507 points while breaking four school records and winning two conference titles. The Gophers finished behind Michigan (829) and Ohio State (521). Purdue was fourth (494) and Indiana was fifth (449.5). Curt Carlson and Mike Holmes led Minnesota with runner-up finishes on the final night.

Minnesota extended a streak of 21 consecutive years with a top three finish at the Big Ten Championships. The Gophers won two Big Ten titles, had 19 championship finalists and 15 consolation finalists.

Nadav Kochavi lowered his prelim time in the 200 butterfly to tie for third place with Michigan's Curtis Dauw in a time of 1:44.42. Alex Wold dropped almost a second off his prelim time to place sixth in 1:44.67. Kochavi is the third-fastest Gopher ever in the event while Wold is fourth. Kochavi wrapped up an outstanding first Big Ten meet, finaling in all three of his individual events and contributing to the 200 medley relay championship. He scored 45.5 points individually for the Gophers. Wold also finaled in all three of his events, scoring 44 points individually.

Kevin Baseheart also turned in a great swim to win the consolation final in a career-low 1:46.55.

For the third-straight year, Mike Holmes took runner-up honors in the 1650 freestyle to Michigan's Matt Patton. This year's edition was a fantastic race with Patton holding off Holmes by just 1.54 seconds. The two raced neck-and-neck for most of the mile-long race with Patton emerging in 14:57.09 while Holmes touched the wall in 14:58.63, the second-best time of his career. David Hawker dropped 14 seconds off his career-low time to place 18th in 15:27.01 and Michael Daup placed 26th in 15:37.22. Nico Zebley also finished 32nd in 15:58.80.

Curt Carlson posted a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle with a time of 43.02. He was edged at the finish by Michigan's Bobby Savulich, who posted a time of 42.87. Carlson shattered the school record in the prelims at 42.82 but he couldn't quite match the time at night. Steve Miller also placed eighth in 43.72. The Gophers got a boost from Michael Richards who won the consolation final in a time of 43.45, duplicating the time he posted in the prelims. Ray Betuzzi also finished in a tie for 14th with a time of 44.10.

Also competing in the C Final, Zach Bolin took 19th in 44.91 and Dominique Massie-Martel took 20th in a career-best 44.92.

Cole Young racked up 393.80 points in the 10-meter platform finals to finish sixth, tying his career-best finish. Young was consistent throughout his entire list and finished with his best dive, scoring 78.20 on a back 2 1/2 somersault, 1 1/2 twist pike. Young finishes his Big Ten career as a three-time finalist and a nine-time scorer at the championships. Drew Brown placed 10th in the consolation final with a score of 376.10. He moved up from 13th in the prelims to five Minnesota seven huge team points. Young and Brown scored in all of their events during the Championships.

Karl Burdis led Minnesota in the 200 backstroke, placing 11th in a career-best 1:45.63. Burdis became the ninth-fastest performer in school history. Josh Griffey swam in the C Final and placed 21st in 1:47.75.

In the 200 breaststroke, Ivan Gutesa led the Gophers with a 10th place finish in 1:58.66, just off the time he posted in the prelims. Mark Solfelt also finished 15th in 2:00.51. In the C Final, Richard Hills finished 19th in 2:00.60 and Zach Weis took 23rd in 2:01.95.

In the final event of the championships, the Gophers took second in the 400 freestyle relay in an NCAA automatic time of 2:52.20. Kevin Baseheart, Curt Carlson, Steve Miller and Michael Richards finished just behind Michigan's effort of 2:51.28. Penn State was third in 2:53.70. The runner-up finish iced a third-place finish for the Gophers.

Colin Lee-To, Kochavi, Anthony Portela and Miller earned All-Big Ten First Team honors while Burdis, Carlson, Holmes and Baseheart earned All-Big Ten Second Team accolades.

Minnesota's NCAA swimming qualifiers will head to the NCAA Championships in College Station, March 26-28. The Gopher divers will attempt to qualify for the NCAA meet and the Zone C Championships March 13-15 at University Aquatic Center.

NOTES: Minnesota's 200 free relay team posted an NCAA automatic qualifying time in a time trial after the prelims session. The time of 1:17.19 broke the school record. The team consisted of Colin Lee-To, Michael Richards, Curt Carlson and Steve Miller...Lee-To became Minnesota's first Big Ten champion since 2006, taking the 100 breaststroke on Friday...Minnesota broke the Big Ten record in winning the 200 medley relay on Friday as well.

Hoosiers Finish Fifth at Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships
Freshman Eric Ress broke a 200 backstroke age group record held by Michael Phelps, and junior Aaron Opell picked up a silver medal in the 200 breaststroke to highlight the final day of competition at the Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in West Lafayette, Ind.

Indiana finished fifth overall with 449.5 points. Michigan won its second-straight title with 829 points, followed by Ohio State in second (521), Minnesota third (507) and Purdue fourth (494).

“This was a much better day for us in a lot of different ways,” said head coach Ray Looze. “The guys finally stood up and really fought and understood what they needed to do to be successful at this meet. It wasn’t comprehensive, but we had done way better than we had done the previous couple of days and I think that is a good sign for the future.

The 200 backstroke saw Ress add a silver medal to his collection with a career-best time of 1:41.35. That is the second fastest time in school history and gives Ress two of the three fastest times ever by a Hoosier. In addition, Ress breaks Michael Phelps’ 17-18 age-group record. It is also an NCAA A cut. Doug Spraul finished second in the consolation heat and 10th overall with a lifetime best of 1:45.02, topping his old mark of 1:45.92 set in the prelims.

“I was most surprised that I kept up with (Michigan’s) Tyler Clary,” Ress said. “I’ve known who he is for the past couple of years and I know he is fast. The fact that I kept up with him as well as I did was really surprising for me. It gave me a lot of confidence going into NCAA’s that I have enough experience and I am a good enough swimmer to keep up with the top 200 backstrokers in the country.”

In the prelims, Ress cut three seconds off his personal best to win the third heat with a time of 1:42.31. That is the third-fastest time in school history. It was also the fastest qualifying time. Jim Barbiere posted a lifetime best in the fourth heat (1:48.16), with Spraul fourth in 1:45.92.

In the 200 breaststroke, Aaron Opell swam his way to a second-place finish with a lifetime best of 1:56.24, the fourth-fastest time in school history. Teammate A.J. Miller finished sixth with a time of 1:58.32. Tyler Lemert and Daniel Sliwinski tied for 17 as both posted a mark of 1:59.88 in the bonus heat. That is a personal best for Sliwinski.

“It goes to show you should never call it quits,” Opell said. “If you had a bad swim the night before, just throw it away, put it in the back of your head and expect the absolute best of yourself.”

Opell obliterated his then-personal best with a time of 1:56.56 to win the third heat. It is the sixth-fastest time in school history. Miller also broke his personal mark to win the fourth heat with a time of 1:57.96. Lemert was fifth in the heat in 2:00.81. Tameris was sixth in the final heat in 2:01.38, followed by Sliwinski (2:01.51) and Justin Peterfish (2:02.35), who posted a lifetime best in the same heat. Brendan Butler went a lifetime best of 2:02.25 to finish second in the first heat.

Matt Lenton took sixth in the 100 free with a time of 43.62. Ante Zoricic finished 15th overall with a time of 44.07 in the consolation final.

In the prelims, Lenton went a lifetime best 43.44 to finish second in his heat, while Titus Knight was fifth, also with a career-best time (44.27). Zoricic took fifth in his heat with a time of 44.01. Knight qualified for the bonus final but opted not to swim.

Indiana had three swimmers in the consolation final of the 200 butterfly in Cody Weik, Tyler Shedron and Tony Mattar. Weik finished 10th with a time of 1:47.20. Mattar was 12th, improving his career best to 1:47.58. Shedron took the 15th spot with a time of 1:48.09.

Weik went a lifetime best of 1:46.51 in his morning prelim. Shedron was fourth in his heat with a time of 1:47.65, while Mattar was fifth (1:47.77). Matthew O’Brien finished second in his heat with a career best of 1:50.44.

Landon Marzullo wrapped up his Big Ten meet with a fourth-place finish on the platform, racking up 412.45 points in the finals. Senior Will Bohonyi wrapped up his Big Ten career with a seventh-place finish, scoring 359.75 points.

Marzullo finished fourth in the prelims with a score of 393.75. Bohonyi was eighth with 366.95 points. Robert and Jonathan Dohring both qualified for the consolation final with Robert totalling 334.15 points, good for 12th overall, and Jonathan 15th overall with 319.90 points. Freshman Linus Altman-Kurosaki actually qualified for the consolation finals with 279.25 points but opted not to participate, allowing Robert into the top 16.

In the 1650 freestyle, Bart Ginocchio’s time of 15:11.76 was a personal best, cutting more than 12 seconds off his previous time, and was good enough for sixth place. Butler finished ninth in a career best 15:14.14, more than 20 seconds faster that his career best entering the meet. Steffan Troxel also had a career best with a time of 15:21.96, which was good for 12th. Freshman Ryan Hinshaw finished 22nd with a time of 15:28.80.

The championships wrapped up with the 400 freestyle relay as Matt Lenton, Ante Zoricic, Titus Knight and Jim Barbiere finished ninth in 2:56.56.

Penn State Closes Out Big Ten Championships with Seventh Place Finish
The men’s swimming and diving team finished the Big Ten Championships Saturday night with in seventh place with a final score of 246. The Lions were narrowly edged out of sixth place by Wisconsin at 248.5.
 
David Kraft led the way in the 1650 freestyle placing 13th in 15:22.55. Dito Calderon wasn’t far behind claiming 16th to also score points with a time of 15:24.87.
 
Defending national champion Patrick Schirk placed third overall in the 200 backstroke touching the wall in 1:42.04. Dan Fimbianti scored points as well placing fifth in the consolation final, 13th overall with a time of 1:46.15.
 
The Lions had an impressive showing in the 100 freestyle as Brian Alden placed fourth in the consolation final, 12th overall, clocking in at 43.91. Jason Goldner also added points with an eighth place finish in the consolation finals with a time of 44.50. In the championship final, Vincent Reydams touched the wall fifth in 43.51.
 
School record holder Tim Williams placed seventh overall in the 200 butterfly clocking in at 1:44.80.
 
Reydams, Alden, Goldner and Basil Kaaki teamed up and placed third in the 400 freestyle relay in an NCAA “B” time of 2:53.70.

IOWA SWIMMING & DIVING SCHOOL RECORDS FALL AT BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
 Hawkeye sophomore Conor Dwyer and junior Michael Gilligan gave the Iowa men's swimming and diving team something to cheer about at the Big Ten Championships at West Lafayette, IN. In Saturday's final day of competition, Dwyer broke Iowa's 15-year-old 100 free record and posted an NCAA B cut in that event, while Gilligan broke his own school record in the platform diving event.
               
Iowa placed ninth at the conference meet, tallying 144 points over three days of competition. Defending team champion Michigan won its 34th team title with 829. The Hawkeyes had some strong performances at the conference event, recording nine NCAA B cuts, breaking two school records and posting 55 collegiate bests.
               
Dwyer led the Hawkeyes on Saturday, placing 11th in the 100 free (43.82). He broke the school record of 43.84 in the prelims with his collegiate-best and NCAA B cut time of 43.67. Former Hawkeye all-American Krzysztof Cwalina set the previous record in 1994.
               
Dwyer also swam the lead leg on Iowa's 400 free relay that closed out the competition with a fifth-place finish and an NCAA B cut time of 2:55.19. Freshmen Duncan Partridge, Ryan Phelan and Paul Gordon also swam on the relay that posted the second-fastest time in Hawkeye school history.
               
Gilligan placed 13th (326.70) in the tower event, scoring a collegiate best and school record 335.45 in the prelims. He set the previous Hawkeye best of 327.60 in 2007.
               
Several Hawkeye underclassmen made their marks in the Hawkeye record books with their performances Saturday. Junior Nick Divan placed 10th in the 1,650 free with a collegiate-best 15:14.78. That time is an NCAA B cut and ranks fourth in school history. Partridge posted a collegiate-best 44.18 in the 100 free prelims, which ranks seventh in school history. He placed 18th overall in 44.89. Sophomore Sean Hagan's 200 breast prelim time of 1:59.89 beat his previous collegiate best by almost five seconds and ranks fourth in school history. He placed 16th in the event (2:10.18). Sophomore Max Dittmer also swam a collegiate best of 1:48.33 in the 100 back prelims, which ranks eighth in school history. Junior Frank Van Dijkhuizen placed 16th (280.65) in platform diving, which ranks second in school history.
               
Iowa's next competition will be at the Zone C NCAA Diving Qualifier, March 13-15 at Minneapolis, MN. Gilligan, Van Dijkhuizen, DeLashmutt and Hawkeye women's divers Deidre Freeman and Veronica Rydze will compete for the opportunity to advance to the NCAA Championships. The women's NCAA Championships will be held March 19-21, while the men's event is set for March 26-28. Both meets will be held at College Station, TX, on the Texas A&M University campus.
 
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
Place     Team - Points
1.            Michigan - 829
2.            Ohio State - 521
3.            Minnesota - 507
4.            Purdue - 494
5.            Indiana - 449.5
6.            Wisconsin - 248.5
7.            Penn State - 246
8.            Northwestern - 213
9.            Iowa - 144
10.          Michigan State - 108