Wolverines Take Lead After First Day of Dual with Texas

Friday, November 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

Texas

Wolverines Take Lead After First Day of Dual with Texas

11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Score: #8 Michigan 111, #2 Texas 94 (after Day 1)
Records: U-M (2-2), Texas (1-0)
Next U-M Meet: Saturday, Nov. 15 -- vs. Texas (Canham Natatorium), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8 University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team completed the first day of the two-day dual meet with No. 2 Texas with a 111-94 lead as the Wolverines posted seven event titles Friday evening (Nov. 14) in Canham Natatorium. Events were contested in long-course meters, and diving was not part of the night's action.

Sophomore Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) got things started for the Wolverines as he led a trio of Blue swimmers into the wall with a first-place showing of 16:04.33 in the 1,500-meter freestyle relay. Following Vanderkaay into the wall were junior Brendan Neligan (Hempstead, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) and senior Tim Wera (Villa Hills, Ky./Beechwood HS). Neligan finished second in 16:06.47, while Wera placed third in 16:28.28.

Davis Tarwater (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School) continued Michigan's success, as he and Andrew Hurd (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalger HS) combined for a 1-2 finish in the 200-meter freestyle relay. Tarwater's winning time of 1:52.94 and Hurd's second-place 1:53.04 both came in under the NCAA B standard for the event.

Chris DeJong (Holland, Mich./Holland HS) made it two straight event wins as he clocked in with a first-place time of 24.04 in the 50-meter freestyle. DeJong's time was just 0.25 seconds ahead of Longhorn runner-up and six-time NCAA butterfly champion Ian Crocker.

The Wolverines won their third straight event title as Dan Ketchum (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore HS) clocked in with a time of 2:08.15 to win the 200-meter individual medley. Teammate Chuck Sayao (Mississauga, Ontario/Cawthra Park) was close on his heels, finishing second in 2:08.67.

At the first break in action, U-M held a 54-39 advantage after four five events.

Following an event victory by Texas' Crocker in the 100-meter butterfly, Ketchum claimed his second victory of the evening with a first-place showing in the 100-meter freestyle. Ketchum touched the wall with a time of 51.84 for his second NCAA B standard swim of the night.

Texas claimed its first lead of the evening following the completion of the 100-meter backstroke, as Aaron Piersol led a 1-3-4 Longhorn charge by finishing first time of 56.44. The victory helped Texas to a 76-74 lead after eight swimming events.

The Texas lead only lasted one event though, as Vanderkaay, Neligan and Hurd finished 1-2-3 in the 400-meter freestyle, boosting the Wolverines ahead of the Longhorns 90-79. Vanderkaay posted the event's fastest time as he touched the wall in 4:03.82. Neligan and Hurd were second and third, with times of 4:05.28 and 4:08.13, respectively.

Heading into the final event of the evening -- the 800-meter freestyle relay -- Michigan had a slight advantage, leading 96-92. However, that lead grew to 111-94 once the foursome of DeJong, Tarwater, Hurd and Ketchum earned a first-place finish as they combined for a time of 7:41.25.

Michigan's other relay team -- the foursome of Vanderkaay, Sayao, Neligan and Wera -- was second in the race, clocked in with a time of 7:47.23.

The two teams will return to the pool Saturday (Nov. 15) for the conclusion of their two-day dual meet. The meet, with swimming events in short-course yards format, is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Canham Natatorium.

Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423