U-M Captures All Eight Events in Exhibition with MSU

Friday, February 8

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

Michigan State (ex)

2/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team won all eight events on Friday evening (Feb. 8) in a non-scoring exhibition with Michigan State at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines dominated the competition by sweeping the top three spots in three of the five individual events and junior Justin Drake (Phoenix, Ariz./Arcadia HS) posted the only NCAA consideration time of the meet with a mark of 15:17.41 in the 1,650-yard freestyle.

Justin Drake swam an NCAA consideration time in the 1,650 freestyle.

Drake's NCAA consideration time came in the second event of the day after the Wolverines opened the meet with the top two teams in the 200-yard medley relay. Senior Jordan Watland (Excelsior, Minn./Minnetonka HS), junior All-American Jeff Hopwood (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto HS), junior Tony Kurth (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales HS) and senior Matt Raines (Owosso, Mich./Corunna HS) combined for the fastest time in the 200-yard medley relay at 1:31.48.

Michigan followed the 200-yard medley relay with a sweep in the mile, led by Drake. Following in second was freshman Nicholas Douville (Dayton, Ohio/Archbishop Alter HS) with a time of 15:44.59, while sophomore Tim Wera (Villa Hills, Ky./Beechwood HS) rounded out the top three at 16:09.24.

The Maize and Blue also received sweeps in the 400-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke. In the 400 IM, freshman Brendan Neligan (Briarwood, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy HS) moved over from his normal role as a distance freestyler and won the event with a time of 3:57.97. Fellow freshman Chuck Sayao (Mississauga, Ontario/Cawthra Park HS) was runner-up in the event with a time of 3:59.18 and senior Eric Wilson (Portland, Ore./Sunset HS) was third at 4:04.47.

The 200-yard breaststroke saw sophomore Christian Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) win the event as he edged out Hopwood, 57.23 to 57.30. Seniors Jason Mallory (Granger, Ind./Penn HS) and Wilson were third and fourth, respectively, with times of 58.69 and 1:00.46.

Michigan will host its last dual meet of the season tomorrow when it takes on Michigan State at noon at Canham Natatorium. The competition will mark the last dual meet for diving coach Dick Kimball, who is retiring after 43 years of coaching.

Contact: David Crabtree (734) 763-4423