Michigan
Texas
Wolverines Nipped by Texas' Second-Day Comeback
11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8 University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team dropped a 227-221 decision to No. 2 Texas at the conclusion of a two-day dual meet Saturday afternoon (Nov. 15) in Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines (2-3, 0-0 Big Ten) held the lead for all but one event on the second day, however, the one event in which they fell behind was the final event of the meet, as Texas won the final three events to pull out the come-from-behind victory. Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) led all Wolverines with three first-place finishes, claiming the top spots in the 1,000-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle.
With Michigan ahead 217-212 heading into the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, Texas was able to capture the dual meet victory. The Longhorn foursome of Tyler O'Halloran, Tony Diers, Aaron Peirsol and Ian Crocker out-stroked Michigan's foursome of Andrew Hurd (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalger), Davis Tarwater (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School), Chris DeJong (Holland, Mich./Holland HS) and Dan Ketchum (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore HS) as Texas touched the wall in first place with an NCAA consideration time of 2:58.72. The Wolverines finished second in an NCAA B standard of 2:59.36.
Michigan and Texas were stroke for stroke for the first 375 yards, but with just 25 yards to go, Crocker was able to get a great push of the wall and kicked hard to earn Texas the victory.
After the first day of action the Wolverines held a 111-94 advantage, however, the Longhorns wasted no time in shaving the deficit as they posted a 1-2 finish in Saturday's opening event, the 400-yard medley relay. Texas' A relay claimed the event victory, posting a time of 3:21.27, while its B squad clocked in at 3:24.65.
With their 1-2 showing, the Wolverines' lead was cut to 113-109 heading into 1,000-yard freestyle. With Vanderkaay, Hurd and Jorge Carral (Mexico City, Mexico/Bolles School) touching the wall for a 1-2-3 finish in the event, Michigan's lead increased to 129-112.
Ketchum made it two straight victories for the Wolverines as the senior tri-captain captured the 200-yard freestyle crown with an NCAA consideration time of 1:37.60. Tarwater made it a 1-2 finish in the race when he closed hard and finished with an NCAA consideration time of 1:38.67. Through three events on day two, Michigan's lead swelled to 142-118.
Texas came back strong in the ensuing event as Ian Crocker led a 1-2-4 finish, bringing the score to 146-133.
It took to the next event before the Wolverines again added to their lead. Swimming the 400-yard individual medley for the first time in a Michigan Speedo, Vanderkaay swam to a first-place showing, clocking in with a NCAA B standard time of 3:53.73. Chuck Sayao (Mississauga, Ontario/Cawthra Park) and Brendan Neligan (Hempstead, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy HS) followed Vanderkaay to the wall to complete the Michigan sweep in the event, boosting the lead to 26 points as the score stood at 162-136.
Over in the Dick Kimball Diving Pool, Texas went 1-3-4 on the one-meter springboard to pull the Longhorns within 17 points at 167-150. Senior Jason Coben (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown HS) finished second in the event, posting an NCAA zone diving qualifying mark of 331.56.
Tarwater earned his second event title of the afternoon in the next event in the pool, winning the 200-yard butterfly with an NCAA consideration time of 1:48.32. It marked the second NCAA B standard clocking of the afternoon for Tarwater and helped Michigan hold its lead with the score at 179-157.
Texas pulled with 15 points after the 100-yard freestyle as Crocker posted his second win of the day, clocking in with an NCAA consideration time of 44.13. Ketchum finished second at 44.68, helping the Wolverines maintain momentum and a 185-170 lead.
In the 200-yard backstroke, Texas' Peirsol claimed top honors as he clocked in with an NCAA consideration time of 1:45.32. However, DeJong finished second as he too posted an NCAA consideration time, touching the wall in 1:46.44.
Vanderkaay handed Michigan an additional nine points, winning his third event of the afternoon as he touched the wall of the 500-yard freestyle in an NCAA consideration time of 4:26.99. Vanderkaay led a Michigan sweep of the event as Neligan and Carral again finished second and third, clocking in at 4:33.72 and 4:36.15, respectively.
Heading into the final three events of the afternoon, Michigan held a 207-186 edge. Back in the Dick Kimball Diving Pool the Longhorns took the top two spots in the three-meter event to earn 14 points and pull them within 10 with two events remaining as the score stood at 211-201.
Texas made it consecutive 1-2 finishes as Brendan Hanson and Christian Schurr placed first and second in the 200-yard breaststroke. With the 1-2 punch in the event, Texas closed the gap to 217-212.
Michigan has two weeks off before the Wolverines swimmers travel to the West Coast for the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday (Dec. 4-6) in Federal Way, Wash. Michigan's divers will head to Austin, Texas, for the Texas Invitational (Dec. 5-7).
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Jon Urbanchek
On the meet ... "Well, it was about as exciting a college dual meet can be. The one thing you can say about college swimming, it is a team sport. This was a classic example of how a No. 2 team and a No. 8 team can cut it. It was exciting for the spectators. The fact is that Texas has three of the world's best athletes and it came down to the wire. The meet came down to the last relay and we had to go against a world record holder in Ian Crocker. He is one of the most efficient freestylers in the world. It came down to the very last relay, just as it did last year when Michigan won in the same scenario but in Texas' pool. I think the team performed extrememly well."
On Peter Vanderkaay ... "Peter is the workhorse of this team. I feel confident in putting him anywhere I want to, because I know he will come through for us. He is a really good swimmer. He helps the team any way he can."
On Dan Ketchum ... "Dan knew it would come down to the last relay and it would be him and the world's best in Ian Crocker. Dan held his own. He got touched out by the world's best."
On what Michigan can take from this meet ... "When you settle back down into the Big Ten Conference competition, these guys have already faced many of the nation's best athletes. That will be beneficial to our experience. That experience is going to help us through the Big Ten season and hopefully into the NCAAs."
Day 1 Story | Day 1 Results
Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423
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