Michigan
Michigan State
Michigan Smashes MSU to Finish Second Consecutive Undefeated Season
2/8/2019 8:50:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
» Michigan won its 32nd consecutive meeting against Michigan State, trouncing the Spartans 117-81 on Friday in East Lansing.
» Siobhán Haughey (200-yard IM, 100-yard freestyle) and Maggie MacNeil (50-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke) were each double winners.
» Several student-athletes, including Jackie DeLoof, Caroline Sisson, Monica Babits and Deborah Ho, put on racing suits in exhibition swims.
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (McCaffree Pool)
Score: #2 Michigan 117, Michigan State 81
Records: U-M (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten), MSU (2-7, 1-5 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Wed-Sat., Feb. 20-23 -- at Big Ten Championships (Bloomington, Ind.), 11 a.m./6:30 p.m.
• Complete Results (PDF)
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team put the finishing touches on another undefeated season with a 117-81 win over Michigan State on Friday (Feb. 8) at McCaffree Pool. The Wolverines enter the postseason with an 8-0 record in dual meets, giving the program back-to-back undefeated seasons for the first time since 1988-89.
As a team, U-M won 11 events on the evening, cementing its 32nd consecutive win over the Spartans in a dual-meet setting. Senior Siobhán Haughey and freshman Maggie MacNeil won two events each to lead the way.
"It was a good night for us," said head coach Mike Bottom. "We had four women who shaved and wore suits to go for fast times, and everyone on deck was supportive of them. We had others swim in events that weren't the norm for them, and it was fun to see them reach for potential."
"We don't want them worrying about times at this point. We're less than two weeks to Big Tens, and that's when people start to judge how fast they are. Swimming in different events allows you to have fun and still race hard, and in some cases, go a best time. Getting a best time in an event you don't normally swim will give you confidence to do it again in events that you will swim."
MacNeil was dominant in both of her individual swims, taking the 200-yard backstroke by over seven seconds (1:55.39) and winning the 50-yard freestyle by over a second (22.72). Haughey, meanwhile, won the 200-yard IM by five and a half seconds (1:58.88) and later was the only swimmer below the 50-second barrier in the 100-yard freestyle (49.04).
Senior Yirong Bi, who was second to Haughey in the 500-yard freestyle, won the 200-yard freestyle earlier in the meet (1:50.49), while sophomore Sierra Schmidt led a sweep of the 500-yard freestyle (4:57.66).
Senior Catie DeLoof swam a rare 100-yard butterfly and won (55.62), touching just ahead of sophomore Claire Maiocco (55.95). Senior Jamie Yeung was also a victor, taking the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.41).
Several student-athletes also threw on racing suits Friday: junior Jackie DeLoof in the 100-yard freestyle (51.92) and 200-yard freestyle (1:53.48); freshman Caroline Sisson in the 200-yard freestyle (1:50.50) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.55); junior Monica Babits in the 200-yard butterfly (2:04.25) and freshman Deborah Ho in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.59).
The Wolverines also won both relays, taking the 200-yard medley relay to start the meet (1:41.29) and the 400-yard freestyle relay to close the meet (3:25.59), winning the latter by over eight seconds.
In the diving well, junior Miranda Eberle was the team's highest finisher, going fourth on one-meter (236.40).
The Wolverines will now turn their full attention to preparing for the Big Ten Championships, held Wednesday through Saturday, Feb. 20-23, in Bloomington, Indiana. The meet will begin with two relays on Wednesday (Feb. 20) at 6:30 p.m. The remaining three days will see preliminaries begin at 11 a.m., with finals following at 6:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
