Swimming & Diving Open Up Season With Outdoor Meet
9/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State swimming and diving team opens its 2016-17 campaign hosting Iowa and Notre Dame on Friday, Sept. 30, at the Charles McCaffree Pool. Swimming starts at 4 p.m. outdoors, while diving will take place in the indoor pool.
"It is exciting to do this meet because it is a different kind of experience for everyone," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "I think our kids enjoy competing outside, and being in that type of environment. It is different than what they are going to see for the rest of the season, so it will be nice, but I believe that holds true for all three teams."
The Spartans return a good amount of depth from a year ago, including several athletes on both the men and women's side that have landed themselves in the MSU swimming & diving record books.
"I think our seniors are solid this year," said Gianiodis. "Alec Kandt went to the Olympic Trials; he has always been solid for us. Then Brennan LaBar and Madeline Sewell are really experienced divers, they have scored in the Big Ten before. Sam Hiller and Jon Burke have also been Big Ten scorers. Our seniors are excited, they have the most experience and are ready in terms of starting the season."
Senior Alec Kandt returns as the school record holder in the 100 breaststroke. Kandt has broken his own record multiple times, but the last came at the Big Ten Championships on February, 26, 2016. He also finds himself in the all-time top 10 record books in two other events as well.
In addition to Kandt, five other swimmers have landed in MSU's all-time top 10 at least three times. Four of the swimmers who hold an all-time top 10 time are juniors including Nick Leshok, Joe Szczupakiewicz, Tal Hanani, and Mitch Strahlman. Senior Adam Marsh has also found himself in the all-time top 10 records.
For the women, Michigan State returns junior Racheal Bukowski who owns the school record in the 50 free with a time of 22.85. Bukowski is also in the top five all-time in the 100 free. The women's team also welcomes back 10 other athletes who have notched one or more all-time top 10 finishes to begin the opening weekend.
The Michigan State swimming & diving team have welcomed in many newcomers to the program to help lift the Spartans program for this upcoming 2016-17 season.
"We have a good returning group, but I think we have a good group of freshman coming in," said Gianiodis. "I would say the biggest newcomer for us would be Scott Piper on the men's side, he has really done well in his career. On the women's side, Iana Wolff had a good summer as well, and we are excited to see what they can do at the collegiate level."
The Michigan State swimming and diving team will have one more home meet, Oct. 15, when the program will host and celebrate alumni. The team will then compete on the road until mid-January.
ORDER OF EVENTS
Thursday
| Women | 200 Medley Relay |
| Men | 200 Medley Relay |
| Women | 50 Free |
| Men | 50 Free |
| Women | 100 Individual Medley |
| Men | 100 Individual Medley |
| Women | 800 Freestyle Relay |
| Men | 800 Freestyle Relay |
Friday
Alternate Women/Men and Diving will be at the indoor pool
| 400 Medley Relay |
| 800 Freestyle |
| 200 Freestyle |
| 200 Individual Medley |
| Break |
| 200 Butterfly |
| 100 Freestyle |
| 200 Backstroke |
| 400 Freestyle |
| Break |
| 200 Breaststroke |
| 400 Freestyle Relay |
Players Mentioned
