Swimming & Diving Starts Big Ten Season Against Iowa
10/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's and women's swimming and diving teams starts their Big Ten schedule off Friday against Iowa at McCaffree Pool. This will be the first time this season that the men's and women's team have competed at McCaffree Pool.
"Last weekend's wins help, but now you are in the Big Ten," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "Our goal is to improve upon what they did last week into this week. We're trying to do this without putting too much emphasis on placing or anything like that."
LAST TIME OUT
The men's team began its season last weekend at the IM West Outdoor Pool. The Spartans defeated Grand Valley; 149-55; MSU also defeated Denison, 155.5-49.5.
Two freshmen earned their first victories at MSU as Joe Szczupakiewicz won the 800 freestyle (8:46.95) and Connor Lamb won the 200 IM (2:15.10).
The Spartans men finished the day taking first in the men's 400 freestyle medley. The team of senior Kyle Workman, freshman Lachie McLeish, freshman Alex Trompke, and freshman Nick Leshok with a time of 3:36.84.
The Spartan women also notched two victories last weekend at the Outdoor Pool. MSU defeated Grand Valley, 145-59, and beat Denison, 137-68.
Senior Shelby Lacy tallied two victories on the weekend, winning the 50 freestyle with a time of 28.02 and in the 400 medley, along with sophormore Lauren Kalwasinski, sophomore Sarah Love, and junior Emily Parsons, with a time of 4:34.57.
In the 200 backstroke, senior Kelly Delorme earned her first victory at Michigan State, with a time of 2:31.48. In the 200 breaststroke, junior Marina Borri took first place on the women's side, finishing at 2:48.62.
THINKING B1G
The Spartans start Big Ten Conference play this weekend against the Hawkeyes. The men finished in 10th place at the 2014 Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Last winter, the women finished in 11th at the 2014 Big Ten Championships held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
EYEING THE HAWKEYES
Last season, Iowa finished in eighth place at the 2014 Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships on the men's side. The Hawkeyes will be led by senior Grant Betulius. Betulius holds four school records and was a honorable mention All-American in the 100 and 200 back and 400 medley relays. Junior Roman Trussov will also lead for Iowa; he qualified for the 2013 NCAA Division I National Championships in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Trussov also holds the Hawkeye record in the 200 breastroke. On the women's side, the Hawkeyes finished eighth at the 2014 Big Ten Championships. Sophomore Olivia Kabacinski leads the Hawkeyes in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and 100 breaststroke. Last year, the Iowa men defeated MSU, 182-113. The women also fell in Iowa City, 182-117.
"Iowa has a really good team," said Gianiodis. "Their women's team has really improved over the last few years and their guys are really strong all the way through. They host the NCAA Championships this year, I'm sure their goal is to get as many people there as possible. So it will be harder than it was last week."
NEXT UP
MSU will take a two-week break before returning to action in Buffalo, New York, for a two-day meet. The Spartans will take on Buffalo and Army at the University of Buffalo. The meet will begin at 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 and the action will continue at noon on Nov. 1.
For all of the latest news follow the Spartans at msuspartans.com and follow @MSUSWIMDIVE on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
