MSU Men's Swimming And Diving Opens Weekend Homestand

Nov. 17, 2004

MSU Swimming And Diving Weekly Notes
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EAST LANSING, Mich. -

COMING UP: Michigan State men's swimming and diving (1-3) hosts two dual meets at the Charles McCaffree Pool this weekend. The Spartans battle No. 9 Michigan in a Big Ten dual meet on Friday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. MSU will take on Western Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 20 at noon. The Spartan women's team (0-4) takes a two-week break from competition.

LAST TIME OUT: The Spartans competed against Notre Dame and Pittsburgh in South Bend, Ind., on Nov. 12. The MSU women dropped decisions to the Fighting Irish (199-101) and the Panthers (191.5-108.5). The men's team fell to Notre Dame (213-87) and No. 17 Pittsburgh (185-115).

Senior Tammy Jones won the 100 freestyle (52.39) for MSU. Jones also placed third in the 200 freestyle (1:53.78) and 200 individual medley (2:08.56).

Freshman diver Danielle Williams finished second in the one-meter (249.90) and third in the three-meter (234.60).

Juniors Katrina Kniff (24.11) and Rachael Hagerman (24.13) finished first and second in the 50 free, respectively.

Sophomores Carly Zenk and Eve Brusie and juniors Courtney Ellabarger and Whitney Field combined to place third in the 200 medley relay (1:47.50).

Junior Ian Clutten won two events to lead the MSU men last weekend. Clutten took first in the 100 (55.45) and 200 (2:02.25) breaststroke events.

The team of Vadney, freshman Adam Schmitt, senior Patrick Saucedo and junior Matt Wisniewski finished third in the 400 freestyle relay (3:06.00).

SETTING THE MARK I: Clutten, Wisniewski and juniors Rudolf Wagenaar and Nick Harley set a new Rolfs Aquatic Center record en route to winning the 200 medley relay (1:31.56) last weekend against Notre Dame and Pittsburgh.

NCAA QUALIFIERS: Sophomore divers Matt Akerley and Amy Schmidt joined Williams and senior Justin Laskowski in qualifying for the NCAA Regionals in the three-meter diving event in October. Clutten made the NCAA "B" qualifying standard with his victory in the 100 breaststroke against Iowa on Oct. 30.

COACH GIANIODIS ON WEEKEND DUAL MEETS: "We haven't beaten Michgan in a dual meet since 1977, so needless to say there is a gap between both programs. They have an Olympic gold medalist, Peter Vanderkaay, on their team and some of the best swimmers in the country. Despite that, we feel like we can compete with them in a couple of events. I am familiar with Western Kentucky's program from when I swam and coached at St. Bonaventure. They run a great, classy program and we expect them to be very tough on Saturday."

SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES: Michigan, ranked ninth in last week's CSCAA poll, comes into Friday's meet with a 2-0 overall record (1-0 Big Ten). The Wolverines defeated Wisconsin, 142-93, in the Big Ten dual meet opener for both teams on Nov. 5.

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS: Western Kentucky enters the weekend with a 3-0 mark. The Hilltoppers posted a sweep of Xavier (183-46) and West Virginia (138-102) at home last weekend.