Spartan Swimming And Diving Hosts Ball State

Dec. 8, 2006

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's and women's swimming and diving team will face Ball State at the Charles McCaffree Pool at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Ball State Breakdown
The Ball State women are off to a 3-1 start in dual meets, and most recently took first at the House of Champions Invitational. The Cardinals easily defeated the six participating schools, finishing the meet with a team score of 976, over 200 points ahead of second-place Northern Colorado (706).

The Ball State men started slow, opening the season with a 1-2 record in dual meets, but picked things up at the House of Champions Invitational. The men also had the meet in hard with 938.5 points, which was also a 200-plus point advantage over the second-place team, Western Illinois (628).

For his efforts at the House of Champions Invitational, freshman swimmer Ben Karwoski was named MAC Swimmer of the Week on Dec. 4. Karwoski took home three first-place finishes, winning the 500 free (4:42.33), 200 free (1:45.34) and 200 butterfly (1:57.06). He was also a member of the 800-yard free relay that placed first after clocking in at 7:11.71.

A Former Spartan
Ball State is led by co-head coach Laura Seibold-Caudill, a former MSU diver, and the daughter of MSU swimmers. Siebold-Caudill was a three-time national finalist in one- and three-meter diving, and was honored as an All-American for her efforts in 1973, 1974 and 1975. Seibold-Caudill, who won the East-West Diving Championships while at MSU, was invited to participate in the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team Diving Trials. An eight-time U.S. Diving National Qualifier from 1972-76, she also competed in the U.S. Pan American Team Trials and the U.S. World Game Trials in 1975.

The Last Meeting
In their last matchup on Dec. 10, 2005, in Muncie, Ind., the Spartans swept the Cardinals, with a 128-115 win by the men and a 137-106 win by the women. The Spartan men took six first-place finishes, while the women came away with seven. The women's diving team also was successful against the Cardinals, coming away with a 1-2-3 sweep of the one- and three-meter events.

The Spartans were honored for their efforts last season against Ball State by the Big Ten, picking up both the male and female Swimmer of the Week, as well as the male Diver of the Week. Now-junior Adam Schmitt was honored for capturing first in both the 200 IM and the 200 medley relay.. Senior diver Matt Akerley picked up his first career honor for his second- and third-place finishes on the one-and three-meter boards, respectively. Then-senior Rachel Hagerman was honored as the female Swimmer of the Week.

Spartans Compete At U.S.Open
MSU sent nine swimmers to the U.S. Open Nov. 30 - Dec. 2. The men's 800-meter freestyle relay led the way for the Spartans with a seventh-place finish. The group was led off by freshman Sho Koba, followed by Adam Schmitt, Jason Vadney and Gabe Strickler. Individually, Schmitt was the top swimmer, picking up a tie for 34th in the 100-meter freestyle, finishing in 52.95. Other Spartan swimmers who competed at the USA Swimming sanctioned meet were: Heather Kiluk, Sasha Lewerenz, Jonathan LaRocque, Krzysztof Olszewski and Marcus Poteete.

Top Notch
Following nine meets, 34 Spartans have placed in the top three individually, and 16 different MSU athletes have sat atop the leaderboard. Junior Adam Schmitt leads the male swimmers in victories, winning seven times this season, while Sasha Lewerenz leads the women, also with seven victories.

Ivan Zalllesov has had the most success on the boards for the men, with two wins, while Katie Edwards is the reigning female diver with five victories this season. Edwards has swept both the one- and three-meter boards three times this season, against Akron, Illinois and at the Northwestern Invitational.

Break Out Performers
The Michigan State freshman class has proven themselves on numerous occassions, with the men and women gathering 64 top-three finishes between them. Of those 64, 18 have been first-place finishes. Sho Koba is the top male swimmer with seven top-three and one first-place finish. Ivan Zalessov leads the men in diving, garnering six finishes in the top three, and two wins. Mara Loniewski and Sasha Lewerenz lead the femaile swimmers, placing in the top three, 10 times each. Lewerenz has captured seven wins, while Loniewski has six.

Battling Back
Jason Vadney and Betsy DeJonge are each returning to the pool after a red-shirt season, and both are making waves already this season. In his first meet of the season, Vadney placed in the top-three in three events, while winning the 100 butterfuly. His second and third-place finishes in the 100 and 200 freestyles came behind teammates Adam Schmitt and Sho Koba. Against Princeton, Vadney garnered third in the 200 butterfly.

DeJonge also has been strong, garnering a top-three finish in the 50 freestyle in four of the Spartans six meets this season. DeJonge has earned second three of the four times, including a tie for second against a tough field at Notre Dame.

Spreading Holiday Cheer
The men's and women's swimming and diving program will be making the holiday's brighter for Lansing families, as they donate their time to help at the Salvation Army. The group will team up with the Lansing area Salvation Army Distribution Center for the second year in a row to provide toys for those in need. MSU will be on hand Friday, Dec. 15 from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. at the Salvation Army Distribution Center, located at 3305 South Pennsylvania Ave.

Up Next...
The Michigan State men and women will continue with Big Ten match-ups against Purdue on Jan. 13, 2007, in East Lansing. The meet is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.