Wolverines Take Over Top Spot in CSCAA National Poll
12/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For the first time since the 1994-95 season the University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team is the nation's No. 1-ranked team, according to the most recent (Nov. 27) bi-weekly College Swimming Coaches Association of America poll.
| | Ketchum anchored the 400-yard freestyle relay team against Texas. |
Michigan entered the final event trailing by two points, but the Wolverine foursome of senior Garrett Mangieri (Old Tappan, N.J./Mercersburg Academy, Pa.), freshmen Chris DeJong (Holland, Mich./Holland HS) and Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) and junior anchor Dan Ketchum (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore HS) touched the wall in an NCAA consideration time of 2:57.80 to win the event nearly 0.80 seconds and give the Wolverines the dual meet victory.
"The Texas meet could have gone either way," said Michigan head coach Jon Urbanchek. "It came down to a couple of one-one hundredths of second, otherwise Texas would still be No. 1. On that given day Michigan looked really good and by that our guys deserved it. We will take this honor and cherish it."
U-M came into the meet ranked No. 5 in the nation after a 145-98 pummeling of the Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. The Maize and Blue began the year as the No. 7-ranked team but moved up two spots following a 132-109 victory at then No. 6 Florida.
Michigan was previously ranked No. 1 during the 1994-95 campaign when it manned the No. 1 spot in the CSCAA poll the entire season. The Wolverines opened the preseason rankings with the top spot and ended the season with the program's 11th overall NCAA title.
The Maize and Blue will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich., for the second time this season as the Wolverines will compete in the Eastern Michigan Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, at the Michael H. Jones Natatorium. The EMU Invite is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and a 10 a.m. on Saturday. In U-M's previous trip to the campus of Eastern Michigan the Wolverines earned a 182-115 dual victory on Oct. 25.
Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
