Michigan State University
M Swimming vs. Ball State
Swimming And Diving Cruises To Victory Over Ball State
1/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Jan. 11, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's and women's swimming teams rolled off a pair of victories over Ball State on Saturday, Jan. 11. With a 136-104 victory, the men claimed their third consecutive win, while the women earned a 139-102 victory.
"I am very happy with this weekend as a whole," head coach Jim Lutz stated following the meet. "I think the team is coming together as a group and everything that we have been working on is starting to come together."
Although the Ball State program came in with a combined record of 18-2, they were no match for the Spartans, who cruised to event titles in almost every event.
The women claimed a first-place finish in 10 of the 11 events. Freshman Tesla Hughes (Taft, Tenn.) and senior Stephanie Anisko (Mississauga, Ont.) each claimed a pair of event titles. Hughes earned a first-place nod on the 500 and 1000 freestyle events, finishing in times of 5:08.68 and 10:24.59, respectively. Anisko claimed both diving events, scoring a 278.48 on the one-meter and a 299.25 on the three-meter. It is Anisko's fourth diving sweep of the season, while Hughes earned her first collegiate title.
MSU also received victories from Debbie O'Neil (Chalfont, Pa.), Alicia Copestick (East Liverpool, Ohio), Tammy Jones (Conyers, Ga.), and Kate Duncombe (Erie, Pa.), as well as the 200 medley and freestyle relay teams.
O'Neil won the 200 free in 1:25.54, while Copestick swam the 50 freestyle in 24.50 to claim the event. Jones cruised to a title in the 200 individual medley (2:09.29) and Duncombe took first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:06.39.
On the men's side, Michigan State received eight event wins and a 1-2-3 sweep of the 1000 freestyle event. David Habel (Cincinnati, Ohio) notched a pair of wins for the Spartans, earning accolades on the 500 and 1000-meter freestyle. Habel touched the board on the 500 in 4:30.59, while winning the 1000 in 9:39.66.
Habel led a 1-2-3 sweep in the 1000-freestyle, as Chad Wilson (Holt, Mich.) and Joe Brennan (Poway, Calif.) finished second and third with times of 9:44.82 and 9:45.35, respectively.
MSU also tallied wins in the water from Nick DeFauw (West Bloomfield, Mich.), Ian Clutten (Capetown, South Africa), Patrick Saucedo (Jackson, Mich.) and Rudolf Wagenaar (Capetown, South Africa). DeFauw swam the 50-freestyle in 21.88, while Clutten earned a first-place time of 1:56.17 in the 200 individual medley. Saucedo won the 100 freestyle in 47.50 and then Wagenaar picked up a first-place swim of 1:54.40 in the 200 backstroke.
The Spartans also earned victories on both boards as Justin Laskowski (Bay City, Mich.) picked up a win on the one-meter board, scoring a 272.85. Patrick Sheahan-Stahl (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) scored a personal-high of 301.65 on the three-meter event to finish first, as well.
"The divers did a great job," Lutz stated of the Spartans that won every board. "They were exciting, as always."
With their lead, the Spartans were able to give some swimmers an opportunity to perform in exhibition events, something Lutz believes is truly beneficial.
"We were given the opportunity for our swimmers to try some different events," Lutz commented. "We are finalizing things for the conference championships, as well as the next six weeks of competition."
Michigan State takes to the road next weekend for a 5 p.m. meeting with Big Ten foe Ohio State on Jan. 17 in Columbus, Ohio.
Players Mentioned
