Spartan Swimmers and Divers Looking to Continue Early Season Success

Dec. 2, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Through six meets for the women's team and just three meets for the men's team, the Michigan State swimming and diving teams are already establishing new marks for success. With seven new school records set so far this season, the Spartans are off to a great start.

"The coaching staff - Kathleen and Manny in particular - have done an incredible job of preparing our kids," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "We're so far ahead of where I thought we would be and we're further ahead of where we've ever been at this point in a season."

Sophomore kevin Puskaric (200 breaststroke, 1:57.09), junior Jon LaRocque (50 freestyle, 20.13 and 100 backstroke, 48.55) and senior Marcus Poteete (100 butterfly, 47.01) have all set new school records. For the women, senior Heather Kiluk snapped her own MSU record in the 200 IM (2:02.44).

The men's 200 medley relay team, consisting of LaRocque, Poteete, Joe Schmitt and Matt Massman, as well as the women's 400 medley relay team of sophomores Stephanie Fisher and Becca Ebner, freshman Kerry Sodonis and junior Erinn Wertz both set new school marks.

"We're swimming faster because of the technological advances in swim suits; there is no question about that," Gianiodis said. "But beyond that, we're older and we've trained together for an extended period of time and that helps."

Gianiodis points to MSU's record-setting men's 400 medley relay team that has now trained together for 15-consecutive months as just one example of the team's recommitment to training.

The improved training regiment has also paid off with some performances worthy of national recognition as three Spartans currently post top-10 times in the nation. Poteete has the nation's fifth-fastest 100 fly time (47.01), Puskaric has the country's fourth-fastest 200 breaststroke time (1:57.01) and LaRocque's 100 backstroke time of 48.55 currently ranks as the 10th-fastest in the country to date this season.

Both Poteete and Puskaric's times qualify for the NCAA `B' provisional.

Kiluk's 2:02.44 in the 200 IM currently ranks as the nation's 23rd fastest time.

Another swimmer on the women's side that has performed at a high level this season is sophomore Becca Ebner. The Okemos, Mich., native has won eight of the 10 butterfly events she has competed in this season.

As expected, the Spartan divers have also been outstanding this season. Seniors Danielle Williams and Alycia Mokedanz, juniors Kayla Kalmbach and David Garry, sophomore Jordan Jackson and freshman Sarah Clay have all qualified for NCAA Zones.

With just one more meet prior to the semester break, the Spartans will have three weeks of critical training before kicking off the last half of their schedule.

"Our schedule will certainly get tougher from here on," Gianiodis said. "When we get into the second semester we'll be tested again by some very good teams. I think the schedule sets up for us to swim faster at the end of the year - which is exactly what we want to do."