The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan swimming and diving team ended the regular season with an exclamation point, winning all 16 events in a convincing 195-76 win over Michigan State on Friday (Jan. 31) at Canham Natatorium in the men’s meet, extending the program’s winning streak in the series to 42.
Prior to the meet, the Wolverines honored its 11-man senior class on deck in a special ceremony. Of those seniors, four seniors combined for seven individual event wins. Tommy Cope won the 400-yard IM with a great in-season performance (3:48.38) and later took the 100-yard butterfly (48.82). Michigan native Jacob Montague looked sharp in winning the 50-yard breaststroke (24.98) and 100-yard breaststroke (54.72), while Miles Smachlo cleaned up in the 50-yard butterfly (21.39) and 100-yard IM (49.41). The other victor was Felix Auböck, who won the 200-yard freestyle (1:36.52).
“Our seniors did a great job tonight and have been wonderful leaders for us all season,” said head coach Mike Bottom. “They have pulled this team together and gotten us to a place where we have a chance to achieve great things. Tonight was about working hard in races and making changes in races, and we’ll keep working on those things in the final weeks leading up to Big Tens.”
The underclassmen also shined against the Spartans. Sophomore Eric Storms won a very quick 50-yard backstroke, using a great underwater at the turn to clock in at 21.79, while sophomore Patrick Callan was victorious in the 500-yard freestyle (4:27.57). Two freshman also claimed wins: Andrew Trepanier in the 100-yard freestyle (45.41) and Nadav Aaronson in the 100-yard backstroke (49.06).
During the first break, junior Ricardo Vargas swam the 1,650-yard freestyle in 14:49.16, the fourth-fastest time in the Big Ten this season and one that should see him safely into the final heat of the event at next month’s Big Ten Championships.
The Wolverines also won both relays. The foursome of Trepanier, sophomore Mason Hunter, freshman River Wright and Callan won the 400-yard medley relay (3:16.58), while junior Luiz Gustavo Borges, Smachlo, freshman Cam Peel and Wright combined to take the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:19.31).
Junior Ross Todd swept the springboard diving events, finishing first on both one-meter (356.40) and three-meter (389.17). Senior Jake Herremans followed him on one-meter (338.32), while junior Chris Canning followed on three-meter (364.65). Of note is freshman Nick Leavell, who picked up his first NCAA Zone Diving qualifying score of the season (336.60 on three-meter).
Michigan Swimming Wins Women’s meet
The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan women’s swimming and diving team capped off its third consecutive undefeated season, winning 15-of-16 events in a 181-83 win over Michigan State on Friday (Jan. 31) at Canham Natatorium.
Prior to the meet, the Wolverines honored its five-member senior class in a special ceremony on the pool deck. Senior Miranda Tucker had a huge night with a trio of event wins, ditching her strongest stroke (breaststroke) to win the 100-yard freestyle (50.82) and 200-yard freestyle (1:49.55). She also claimed the 100-yard IM (56.08).
Other seniors to claim victories on Friday included captain Jacqui Schafer in the 200-yard backstroke (1:59.81) and Chloe Hicks in the 500-yard freestyle (4:54.49).
“Our seniors did a great job tonight and have been wonderful leaders for us all season,” said head coach Mike Bottom. “They have pulled this team together and gotten us to a place where we have a chance to achieve great things. Tonight was about working hard in races and making changes in races, and we’ll keep working on those things in the final weeks leading up to Big Tens.”
One week after winning Big Ten Swimmer of the Week with victories in three different strokes, sophomore Maggie MacNeil looked good in all four and won the 200-yard IM (2:00.90).
The junior class claimed each of the other four individual swimming events: Daria Pyshnenko in the 100-yard butterfly (56.09), Alex Hughes in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:16.82), Claire Maiocco in the 50-yard butterfly (56.09) and Emma Cleason in the 100-yard backstroke (56.22).
The Wolverines also won both relays. MacNeil took aim at the pool record for the 100-yard backstroke on the leadoff leg of the 400-yard medley relay — a 51.52 from 2009 — but just missed it, clocking in at 51.87. Along with sophomore Caroline Sisson, Maiocco and Pyshnenko, the foursome finished at 3:41.53. The quartet of Pyshnenko, sophomore Olivia Carter, Cleason and freshman Katii Tang closed out the meet with a win in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:33.59).
In the diving well, sophomore Allie Klein captured a pair of wins on the springboard, taking one-meter (279.37) and three-meter (337.43). Junior Camryn McPherson was second on three-meter (313.13), while junior Nikki Canale was second on one-meter (277.57). Two divers also took to the platform in an exhibition, with junior Christy Cutshaw scoring 271.42 and freshman Paige Sundermann scoring 218.85.
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