Michigan State University
M Swimming at Indiana
Men's Swimming Falls To Indiana, 129-104
10/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Oct. 25, 2002
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Michigan State men's swimming team opened with a 129-104 loss to Indiana on Friday, Oct. 25, at the Coucilman Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Ind. Senior Joe Brennan (Poway, Calif.) won the 200 freestyle for the Spartans, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor at a time of 1:41.34.
Although Michigan State finished second in final points, the Spartans provided tough competition for the 2-0 Hoosiers.
"I am very please with how we looked tonight," head coach Jim Lutz commented after the season opening meet. "It was a good night for us."
Michigan State received strong support from its youngest class. Freshman David Habel (Cincinnati, Ohio) was quite impressive in his first collegiate meet, finishing second in the 1000-yard free. His time of 9:31.68 was a new personal best. Teammate Rudolf Wagenaar (Capetown, South Africa) finished fourth in the 200 free behind Brennan and was the fastest Spartan in the 200 back. Ian Clutten (Capetown, South Africa) was the second-fastest competitor in both the 200 individual medley and the 200 breast, providing some of the fastest Spartan times in some years.
The Spartans took four of the top five spots in three events. In the 50 free, Michael Rigali (Naperville, Ill.), Patrick Saucedo (Jackson, Mich.), Nick DeFauw (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Nick Harley (Rockford, Mich.) took second through fifth spots in the event. MSU also fared well in the 200 IM, claiming second through fifth spots in that event. Behind Clutten's second-place finish were Aaron Benore (Grand Blanc, Mich.), Jason Fish (DeWitt, Mich.) and Nick Mrozowski (East Lansing, Mich.) The 100 free also saw the Spartans with four top-five finishes. Brennan, Peter Politi (Newburgh, N.Y.), Saucedo and Thomas Parker(Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) took all but one spot from the Hoosiers.
"We were really competitive tonight," Lutz stated. "Even in the events that they won, we were right there in the thick of things. It's early in the season, but I am pretty please with how things went."
The Spartans' season continues tomorrow (Oct. 26) In Champaign, Ill. The men will take on Southern Illinois and Missouri at the Intra mural Physical Education Building on the campus of the University of Illinois. Michigan State's women will open their season with a 10 a.m. quad-meet with host Illinois, Southern Illinois and Missouri.
Players Mentioned
