Michigan State University
Cincinnati/Bowling Green (women only)
Spartan Swimming & Diving Sweeps Dual Meets
11/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men and women's swimming & diving teams both captured wins Friday at the Charles McCaffree Pool. The women's team defeated Cincinnati (169.00-130.00) and Bowling Green (155.50-143.50). The men's squad defeated Cincinnati (160.50-137.50).
The women have now won three-straight meets, while the men had one of their strongest showings of the year. In a close meet, the final relays were critical for both teams. The women won the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3.27.73 to seal both wins. Sophomore Racheal Bukowski, senior Emily Parsons, freshman Courtney Aycock and junior Sarah Love had a Spartan season best in the 400 free relay.
The men also had a season-best performance in the 400 free relay. The squad of sophomore Lachlan McLeish, sophomore Nick Leshok, junior Adam Marsh and senior Jacob Moore won with a time of 3:04.84.
"Usually this weekend we don't race particularly well, so I was pretty encouraged. I thought the kids, physically, are still a little bit behind, but I thought we raced good and this meet is what college swimming is all about. It came down to the last relay, and it's kind of fun," MSU head coach Matt Gianiodis said. "The team is looking great. Our women are way ahead of where they were a year ago, and our men are getting there."
Michigan State started the meet with a pair of wins in the 200-yard medley relay. The women's team of sophomore Madison Nowak, junior Kennedy Cutler, Love and Bukowski won the race with a time of 1:43.58. The men's team of sophomore Alex Trompke, junior Alec Kandt, senior Nathaniel Weeks and Leshok touched the wall first with a 1:31.51
Nowak won the first individual race of the day for the Spartans, taking the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.38, while her teammate freshman Cathryn Armstrong touched the wall with a time of 58.06, which was good for third.
Love won her second event of the meet, capturing the 100 butterfly with a time of 56.10. Her time was the fastest of any Spartan this season, topping her season best of 56.35 on Oct. 16 at Iowa.
Michigan State's divers continue their strong season, finishing 1-2 in 3-meter event. Junior Madeline Sewell finished first with a score of 347.95, while freshman Morgan Wellenzohn was second with a scored of 285.70.
In 1-meter, the Spartans took the top three spots with a trio of NCAA Zone Qualifying scores. Once again Sewell was first with a score of 298.50, followed by freshman Julia Oppedisano who finished with a score of 294.20. Wellenzohn was third with a score of 277.45.
On the men's side, Kandt captured a season-high in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall with a 56.50. His previous high this season was a 57.06 against Northern Iowa on Oct. 16.
Junior Brennan LaBar finished first in the men's 1-meter diving with a score of 305.50, which was a season high. Charlie Maurer was second with a score of 288.75.
In the men's 100 free, Leshok was first for MSU with a time of 46.18, which is a season high and the fastest time for a Spartan this season.
Michigan State captured a pair of wins in the 200-yard distance. Trompke earned his first individual win of the night in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:51.03. In the 200 breaststroke, Kandt was the victor with a season-best time of 2:05.55, which was also the fastest time of a Spartan this season. Kandt ended the night winning three races. Michigan State is back in action at the Northwestern Invite Nov. 20-22.
Players Mentioned
