Michigan State University
W Swimming vs. Eastern Michigan
Swimming and Diving Splits Win With Eastern Michigan
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Nov. 15, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's swimming and diving teams left mixed feelings after their home meet Friday, Nov. 15, at the Charles McCaffree pool. With 1-2 punches in four events, the Spartan women exploded off the blocks at their first home meet of the season. However, the men's team with five event wins, was still not able to overcome the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
Deb O'Neil (Sr., Chalfont, Pa.) and Tesla Hughes (Fr., Taft, Tenn.) went one-two for MSU in the 1000-yard freestyle with times of 10:21.49 and 10:21.83, respectively. O'Neil also took first in the 500 free with a time of 5:06.28. Hughes followed close behind with a time of 5:10.02, earning her a third-place finish.
In the 200 free Tammy Jones (So., Conyers, Ga.) and Crissy Spaulding (So., Grand Blanc, Mich.) delivered the second punch when placing first and second with times of 1:53.85 and 1:57.22, respectively. Jones was also the anchor for the winning 400 free relay team which consisted of teammates Alicia Copestick (So., East Liverpool, Ohio), Rachael Hagerman (Fr., Goodland, Ks.), and Sarah Urbanik (So., Bethal Park, Pa.) and a finishing time of 3:32.74
The streak persisted when teammates Copestick and Hagerman paired up to sweep the 100 free earning first and second place times of 53.06 and 53.12, respectively. Hagerman continued to score points for the Spartans with a win in the 50 free with a time of 24.22.
The 200 backstroke further advanced the Spartan women with their fourth 1-2 finish posted by Kate Duncombe (Sr., Erie, Pa.) with a time of 2:06.55 and Deb Hollon (Sr., Calise, Pa.) finishing in 2:09.45.
Senior diver Stephanie Anisko (Sr., Mississauga, Ont.) earned second-place finishes in both the one-meter (226.95) and three-meter (266.33) to help the women clinch the victory.
MSU's men's team had a 1-2 flourish of its own in the 500 free with Joe Brennan (Sr., Poway, Ca.) and David Habel (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio) earning times of 4:36.81 and 4:41.38, respectively. Brennan also led the team in points by scoring a win in the 200 free with a time of 1:42.35 and by taking second place in the 100 free with a finishing time of 47.04. Habel again contributed to the Spartans by earning a time of 9:37.13 in the 1000 free, which was more than adequate for first place.
The Spartan men struggled but still managed to win two more events, including freshman Ian Clutten's (Capetown, South Africa) first place finish in the 200 breastroke with a time of 2:04.19. Clutten was also part of the winning 400 medley relay team with teammates Karl Sunryd (Sr., Molndal Sweden), Dave Sloan (Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.), and Nick DeFauw (Sr., West Bloomfield, Mich), which finished with a time of 3:27.25.
Asst. coach Richard Mull said that the reason the men were not able to walk away with a win was because, "they lost too many close races, which are critical in a tight meet like this." Mull also said that the women swam very well and now they will be focusing on getting ready for the Pittsburgh Invitational.
The men's and women's teams will next compete at a three-day invitational in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Nov. 22.
Players Mentioned
