Men's Swimming and Diving Heads to Big Ten Championships
2/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Feb. 25, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
The Michigan State men's swimming and diving team will travel to West Lafayette, Ind., for the 2009 Big Ten Championships which begin on Thursday (Feb. 26) with the prelims at noon.
"Our goal is to score as many points as we can and have our best swims of the year," said MSU head coach Matt Gianiodis.
The Spartans have been led this season by senior Marcus Poteete, junior Jon LaRcoque and sophomore Kevin Puskaric - all three of which set school records this year.
Poteete has the team's top times in the 50 (22.36), 100 (47.01) and 200 butterfly (1:49.11) as well as the 200 IM (1:49.68). His 47.01 in the 100 fly broke the school record by over one second and ranked in the top-20 times nationally earlier this season.
Larocque set a school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 48.55 at the Northwestern Invitational in November. He also has the team's top time of the year in the 50 back (22.92).
Puskaric, the team's top breaststroke swimmer, swam a school record 1:57.01 in the 200 breaststroke at the Northwestern Invitational earlier this year. His 54.78 in the 100 breaststroke is also a fastest time this season.
"We have some kids that are in a good position to get to the NCAA Championships so, individually, that is a goal for some of them," said Gianiodis.
Colby Ward has been the top Spartan distance swimmer this year as he has posted the team's fastest times in the 1,000 (9:20.13) and 1,650 freestyle (15:32.73). Junior Joe Schmitt has also been one of the team's top freestyle swimmers - clocking MSU's quickest times in the 100 (44.64) and 200 freestyle (1:39.07).
Junior David Garry, who has competed at NCAA Zones the last two seasons, has been the Spartans' top diver all season.
MSU enters the meet having not competed since Feb. 8 when it fell to No. 3 Michigan, 176-109.
Players Mentioned
