Michigan
Michigan State
Maize & Blue Steamrolls Spartans on Senior Day
2/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 6, 2016
» Michigan is now 39-2 all-time against Michigan State.
» Four divers picked up an NCAA Zone Diving cut on the three-meter springboard.
• Complete Results | Photo Gallery 
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Scores: #6 Michigan 180, Michigan State 81
Records: U-M (8-1, 6-0 Big Ten), MSU (5-7, 0-6 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., Feb. 13-14 -- host Michigan First Chance Meet (Canham Natatorium), 11 a.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team won every single event to earn a clean sweep over in-state rival Michigan State, 180-81, on Saturday (Feb. 6) inside Canham Natatorium. Though the Wolverines honored its nine-person senior class before the meet, it was a pair of underclassmen -- sophomore Clara Smiddy and freshman Becca Postoll -- that led the way, winning two individual events each.
With championships approaching and rest setting in for most, the team used the meet to try different relay combinations, put swimmers in events in which they normally do not participate and most importantly, have fun while celebrating the senior class. Smiddy won the 50-yard backstroke (25.50) and 100-yard individual medley (56.04), while Postoll touched first in the 100-yard freestyle (51.22) and 200-yard backstroke (2:00.53).
The 50-yard breaststroke was perhaps most impressive team performance of the afternoon, as all four Wolverines finished ahead of all four Spartans in the race. Leading the way for U-M was sophomore Emily Kopas (28.56), who barely out-touched freshman teammate Siobhán Haughey for the win (28.60). Following those two were senior Marni Oldershaw (29.34) and freshman Jamie Yeung (29.94). Haughey also won the 200-yard breaststroke later in the afternoon (2:14.24).
Postoll and Haughey were not the only freshmen to win on Saturday. Freshman Katie Duggan picked up her first career individual event win, taking the 500-yard freestyle (4:57.10), while Yirong Bi won the 400-yard IM (4:18.01). And in a bit of a departure from her distance freestyle events, sophomore Gillian Ryan took the 200-yard butterfly (2:03.07) title.
The Wolverines also won the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:33.99), the 400-yard medley relay (3:46.30) and the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:28.82).
The divers also had a strong showing. Senior Sarah Kamstra continues to round into form, winning one-meter (298.73) and taking second on three-meter (306.75), earning NCAA Zone Diving cuts with both scores. Junior Allie Murphy improved on her own season-best score, claiming the three-meter title (317.92). Also picking up NCAA Zone cuts on three-meter were fifth-year senior Nicole Honey (300.91) and senior Elena Ghormley (284.03). All four divers -- plus junior Keegan McCaffrey, who did not compete on Saturday -- have an NCAA Zone cut on at least one event.
The Wolverines now ready themselves for the postseason, which begin in two weeks when they host the Big Ten Championships from Feb. 17-20 at Canham Natatorium. Before that, the men's and women's teams will put up select swimmers at the Michigan First Chance Meet, which runs next Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 13-14). The races will begin at 11 a.m. each day.
