Michigan Defeats Both Michigan State and Princeton

Saturday, November 11

Ann Arbor, Mich.

11:00 AM

Michigan

173

102

Michigan State

11/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Result: #11 Michigan 173, Michigan State 102; #11 Michigan 173, Princeton 100
Records: U-M (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten), MSU (0-3, 0-1 Big Ten), Princeton (0-1)
Next U-M Meet: Thu-Sat., Nov. 30-Dec. 2 -- at U.S. Open (West Lafayette, Ind.)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan mens swimming and diving team defeated both Michigan State (173-102) and Princeton (173-100) on Saturday (Nov. 11) at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines jumped out to a dominating lead on both teams, finishing 1-2 in the first five events of the day. U-M ended up with the top score in 13 of the 15 events. With the victory, Michigan has won 36 consecutive meets against Big Ten opponents. U-M improved its overall record against Princeton to 7-1.

The Wolverines opened the day by taking the top three places in the 100-yard backstroke. Sophomore Matt Patton (Matthews, N.C./Butler) captured first place, touching the wall in 50.23. Freshman Andr Schultz (Sao Paulo, Brazil/ Colegio Palmares) and junior Dane Grenda (Hockessin, Del./Salesianum) were right behind, taking second (51.10) and third place (51.61), respectively. Patton earned another victory in the 1,000-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 9:13.73.

Overall, Michigan was able to sweep the top times in three events: Matt Patton finished first in the 200-yard backstroke (1:48.92), freshman Charlie Houchin (Raleigh, N.C./William G. Enloe) scored the top time in the 500-yard freestyle and freshman Scott Spann (Austin, Texas/Westlake) swam to the top time in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching the wall in 1:59.74, more than eight seconds ahead of the next competitor.

Scott Spann also won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 55.65, while junior Alex Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams) took second (57.61). Spann just missed the NCAA Consideration B time of 55.20.

Junior Alex Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams) earned two victories on the day. He took first in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 3:54.85, and also won the 200-yard butterfly, touching the wall in 1:49.81.

Sophomore Evan Ryser (Katy, Texas/ James E. Taylor) swam to multiple victories during the day, as well. He won the 50-yard freestyle (20.90), in addition to tying sophomore Bobby Savulich (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph) for first in the 100-yard freestyle (45.76). Savulich also won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:38.72.

Freshman Chris Brady (Wilmington, Del./Mount Pleasant) earned a first-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (49.43), with sophomore Curtis Dauw (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) shortly behind (50.06).

The Michigan swimmers wrapped up the day with the top two times in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The fastest team consisted of Savulich, Ryser, Patton and Vanderkaay, who touched the wall in 3:02.81.

The Wolverines had two divers participate, as NCAA Zone Qualifier sophomore Kyle Schroeder (Milan, Mich./Milan) was out with a broken eardrum. Senior Jon Donadee (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) scored the highest marks for Michigan in both the one-meter (third place, 247.72) and three-meter (second place, 297.00) dives.

Michigan gets back into action at the U.S. Open in West Lafayette, Ind. The meet will be held from Nov. 30-Dec. 2.

Contact: Tim Trunzo (734) 763-4423