Senior All-American Michael Richards captured wins in two individual events and helped relays to two more victories as the Minnesota men’s swimming & diving team easily outscored Missouri by a score of 189-109 in a dual meet at the University Aquatic Center on Saturday. The Golden Gophers, who are 4-1 in dual meets this season, won 13 of 16 events.
Richards won both the sprint freestyle events, clocking a time of 20.25 seconds in the 50-yard free and 45.59 seconds in the 100 free. He anchored both the Gopher relays to victory as well. Richards teamed with NadavKochavi, Ivan Gutesa and Kevin Baseheart to open the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:30.53. Richards and Baseheart were joined by Curt Carlson and Zach Bolin to win the meet-finale 200 free relay in 1:22.49.
The Gophers showed their depth taking the top four places the 1,650 free and the 100 free, and sweeping the top three in the 50 free and the 500 free.
Matt Benecki led the charge in the 1,650 free winning the title in a time of 15:48.38. He was followed by Chris Peterson (16:01.81), David Hawker (16:05.26) and Sean Nesheim (16:10.77). Peterson won the 500 free in 4:38.07, edging Benecki (4:38.18), with Hawker third in 4:40.98.
The order of finish in the 100 free was Richards, Bolin (46.08), Carlson (46.53) and Matt Papenfuss (47.11). In the 50 free, Richards placed first with Carlson second (20.94) and Bolin third (21.16).
Freshman Kyler Van Swol was a double winner taking the 200 backstroke in a time of 1:52.11 and the 100 butterfly in 49.26.
Other Gophers winning events were Carlson in the 200 free (1:40.63), Josh Hall in the 100 breaststroke (56.02), Baseheart in the 200 fly (1:50.92) and Gutesa in the 200 breast (2:03.21).
Minnesota’s next competition is Jan. 28-29 at the triple duals at Purdue.
Minnesota won 14 of 16 events to cruise to a 196-101 victory over Missouri in a dual meet at the University Aquatic Center on Saturday. The Golden Gophers improved their dual-meet record to 6-1 on the season.
Senior Kaylee Jamison enjoyed a big day for the Gophers, winning two individual events and contributing to two more victories on relays. Jamison won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.54 seconds, then added the crown in the 100 butterfly in a time of 55.19 seconds. She swam the third leg of the 200 medley relay that kicked off the meet with a winning time of 1:42.37, then led off the 200 free relay that capped off the meet with a winning time of 1:33.92.
Completing the lineup for the 200 medley relay was Hannah Whitehead, Jillian Tyler and Meagan Radecke. Radecke was also on the 200 free relay along with Abbey Staatz and Alison Eggers.
Defending national champion Kelci Bryant captured the titles in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events with season-best scores on both boards. Bryant scored 338.32 points in the 1m event and 366.52 in the 3m event.
Ashley Steenvoorden contributed two victories in freestyle events, winning the 200 free in 1:49.59 and the 500 free in 4:49.05.
Other Gophers winning titles were Loren Branden in the 1,650 free (16:44.32), Tyler in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.87), Molly Belk in the 200 fly (2:02.43), Radecke in the 100 free (52.21), Haley Spencer in the 200 breast (2:16.81) and Hailey Szews in the 400 individual medley (4:24.52).
Minnesota’s next competition is Jan. 21-22 at the Swim World Carnival hosted by Rutgers in New Brunswick, N.J.
