Spartans Open Up The New Year At Home

Jan. 9, 2019

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State swimming and diving team will host Purdue in its first competition of 2019 on Friday, Jan. 11 at 3 p.m. ET. The meet will take place at the McCaffree Pool in IM West

"John Klinge and Dan Ross are great guys and great coaches. They run a really high-level program. The men's team is probably one of their best men's team I've ever seen," head coach Matt Gianiodis said. "John and his women's team are great and always finish in the top half of the Big Ten conference and their divers are world class. We plan on having quite a challenge with both teams on Friday."

The Spartans spent the month of December both in East Lansing and Delray Beach, Florida, for their annual training trip. The last competition seen by the Spartans was at the Northwestern Invitational in November. Both the men and women teams claimed a third-place finish with score of 638.5 and 672, respectively.

Erin Szara set a new varsity record in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 28.32.

With a time of 44.97, Josh Lantow became the fifth-fastest 100 freestyler in Michigan State history.

Abbey Neveling, Ellie Roche, Scott Piper, Kennedy Truex and Weston Youngblood all placed in two events over the course of the meet.

Michigan State also sent 13 individuals to USA Winter Nationals, held in Greensboro, N.C. from Nov. 28 - Dec. 1.

Scott Piper broke a varsity record and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials with his fourth-place finish in the 200 IM (2:03.69). In the 50 freestyle A Finals, Payton Woods finished with a time of 23:05, breaking an MSU varsity record, qualifying for the Olympic Trials and setting a new lifetime best.

Live stats from Friday's meet can be followed on MeetMoblie, and results will be available at msuspartans.com at the conclusion of the contest.

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Players Mentioned

Josh Lantow

Abbey Neveling

Scott Piper

Ellie Roche

Erin Szara

Kennedy Truex

Payton Woods

Weston Youngblood