Michigan State University
Men's Big Ten Championships
Spartans Post Record-Breaking Thursday
2/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Michigan State men's swimming and diving team recorded five top-10 times in school history on Thursday. The Spartans score 14 points on Thursday to boast a total of 46 points at the Big Ten championships. Michigan State currently stands in 10th place.
"We had a really good night," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "We were really close to a couple records tonight. We are swimming well and the guys are doing well. We feel like we'll have a great day tomorrow."
Freshman Tal Hanani posted the second-fastest time in school history in the 200 IM qualifying. Hanani clocked in at 1:47.41 in qualifying, to take the 24th-fastest time, where he qualified for the consolation bonus final where he improved his time to 1:46.75 and won his heat to finish in 17th. Sophomore Alec Kandt finished in 38th, recording the fifth-fastest time in school history at 1:48.74. Five other Spartans posted career-best times at Michigan State, in 47th junior Nate Weeks at 1:49.55, in 48th junior Ian Rodriguez, posting the 10th-fastest time in school history at 1:49.57, freshman Alex Duffy in 53rd at 1:50.39, sophomore Ben Martin in 56th at 1:50.54, and in 59th Connor Lamb at 1:51.42.
Two Spartan top-10 times fell in the 500 freestyle on Thursday. Sophomore Jon Burke posted the fifth-fastest time in school history in the qualifying round at 4:23.51, taking 17th. In the consolation bonus round, Burke finished in fifth at 4:26.54 to finish 21st overall. Freshman Joe Szczupakiewicz earned the ninth-fastest time in school history in the qualifying finishing in 23rd at 4:25.59. In the consolation bonus he finished in sixth at 4:28.37, to finish in 22nd overall. Two Spartans also posted career-best times, sophomore Adam Henley finished in 45th place at 4:31.80 and freshman Jacob Carl in 47th place at 4:35.46. Senior David Zoltowski had his fastest time of the year in 48th place at 4:37.68. Freshman Jonathan Zofchak finished in 49th at 4:45.06.
All seven Spartans had their fastest time of the year in the 50 freestyle on Thursday afternoon. Junior Jacob Moore recorded the Spartans' fastest time of the day, finishing in 41st at 20.61, his fastest time at Michigan State. Freshman Nick Leshok also recorded his best time at Michigan State in 42nd place at 20.62. Senior Kyle Workman finished in 48th at 20.74. Four Spartans posted their best time at MSU, sophomore Adam Marsh in 51st at 20.83, freshman Evan Holzgen in 57th at 20.96, sophomore Sam Hiller in 63rd at 21.24, and freshman Alex Jirgens in 66th at 21.47.
In the 1-meter diving, sophomore Brennan LaBar finished in 30th with 238.90 points and Charles Maurer finished in 32nd at 232.35.
Michigan State finished in 10th place in the 400 medley relay. The team of Ian Rodriguez, Alec Kandt, Jacob Moore, and freshman Lachie McLeish finished at 3:13.26.
The Spartans return to action tomorrow at 12 pm ET from the University of Iowa at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.
Players Mentioned
