Weekly Release #1
10/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Oct. 29 -- at Eastern Michigan (Ypsilanti, Mich.), 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 5 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 5 p.m. CST
This Week: Eastern Michigan Dual
The University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team opens its 2004-05 season on Friday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. when the Wolverines travel across town to face Eastern Michigan at the Michael J. Jones Natatorium. The meet format will be short-course yards.
Schedule of Events
400-yard medley relay
1,000-yard freestyle
200-yard freestyle
50-yard freestyle
200-yard individual medley
Diving
200-yard butterfly
100-yard freestyle
200-yard backstroke
500-yard butterfly
Break
200-yard breaststroke
400-yard freestyle relay
Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan
No non-Big Ten Conference opponent is more familiar to the Michigan men's swimming and diving program than Eastern Michigan. Dating back to their first meeting in the 1970-71 season, the two teams have competed against each other in dual meets 24 times. The Wolverines are perfect in those meets with a 24-0 record, including a 168-115 victory last year at Canham Natatorium.
Scouting the Opponents
Eastern Michigan -- Last year the Eagles posted a record of 7-3, 4-0 in the MAC. Under 17th-year head swimming coach Peter Linn, Eastern Michigan is 124-34 overall and 79-6 in the MAC action.
Michigan in Openers
Since the 1967-68 season, when the Wolverines fell to Indiana (40-83), Michigan has gone on to win its opening dual meet 36 straight years. The streak includes wins over top-ranked teams such as Georgia, Florida and California. Last season the Maize and Blue downed Eastern Michigan 168-115 at Canham Natatorium to kick off the 2003-04 season.
We're Going Live
If you're unable to make it to Canham Natatorium this season, you can keep up on all the U-M swimming and diving action as it is happening. MGoBlue.com will provide living scoring for both of Michigan's scheduled dual meets in 2004-05.
New Faces
The Wolverines welcome seven new faces to the team for the 2004-05 season, including first-year head coach Bob Bowman. Bowman comes to Michigan fresh off his assistant position with the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and nine years at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where he served as the personal coach for Michael Phelps. Phelps followed Bowman to Michigan and will serve as a volunteer assistant coach.
In the water, five freshman will look to make contributions to the Maize and Blue this year. Freestylers Johnny Austermann (Huntington Woods, Mich./Berkley HS) and Alex Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS), backstroker Dane Grenda (Hockessin, Del./Salesianum HS) and breaststrokers Grant Burtch (Holland, Mich./Holland HS) and Dane Rook (Metamora, Mich./Cranbrook Kingswood HS) will all make their collegiate debuts this season.
Front and Center
Seniors Nicholas Douville (Dayton, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) and Michael Galindo (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga College) were elected captains for the 2004-05 season. Douville was earned 2004 Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors and is also a three-time recipient of the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement award. Both Douville and Galindo are in their first year as captains.
Good as Gold
The Michigan swimming and diving program continued its long tradition of Olympic success at the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. U-M placed nine current and former Wolverines, coaches and Club Wolverine members in and around the Olympic Aquatic Centre and had one former letterman represent the U.S. in the triathlon. Four of U-M's Olympians can be found on the 2004-05 roster. Head coach Bob Bowman served as an assistant for the Team USA. Volunteer assistant coach Michael Phelps tied an Olympic record with eight-medals (six gold, two bronze), including first place in the 800-meter freestyle. Joining Phelps on the relay was Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) who won his first Olympic gold medal as part of the squad. Andrew Hurd (Oakville, Ont./Oakville HS) was the only current Wolverine to qualify for an individual event. Hurd set a Canadian record in the 400-meter freestyle at the Olympic Trials with a time of 4:39.67 and finished 13th overall in the event at the 2004 Games.
The Best in all the Land
The 2004-05 Wolverines feature three defending NCAA Champions from the 2003-04 season. Peter Vanderkaay claimed three NCAA titles in the 1500-meter freestyle, the 400-meter freestyle and the 800-meter freestyle relay, becoming the first Wolverine since John Piersma (1994-97) in 1997 to accomplish the feat. Joining Vanderkaay on the championship relay squad were Andrew Hurd, Davis Tarwater (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School) and former Wolverine Dan Ketchum (2001-04). The team led the race from the third leg on and clocked in with an NCAA and U.S. Open record time of 7:01.42.
Conference Crowns
Michigan returns four Big Ten Champions and All-Big Ten first-team selections and one second-team selection from a year ago, including Big Ten co-Swimmer of the Year Peter Vanderkaay. Vanderkaay finished first in the 500-yard free, the 1,650-free, the 400-yard IM and helped the Wolverines claim the title in the 800-yard freestyle. Andrew Hurd and Davis Tarwater also earned All-Big Ten first-team citations as members of the championship relay team. In addition to his relay crown, Tarwater set a Big Ten and U-M record, winning the 200-yard breaststroke in 1:46.26. Chris DeJong (Holland, Mich./Holland) also set a Big Ten and U-M record with his victory in the 200-yard backstroke in 1:41.78. Christian Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) earned All-Big Ten second-team honors with U-M's second place finish in the 400-yard medley relay.
CSCAA Top 25 (10/22/04)
RANK, SCHOOL Points 1. Auburn 175 2. Stanford 163 3. California 161 4. Florida 153 5. Texas 150 6. Arizona 138 7. Minnesota 134 8. Southern Cal 127 9. MICHIGAN 114 10. Tennessee 108 11. North Carolina 98 12. Virginia 97 13. Georgia 87 14. Indiana 83 15. Northwestern 82 16. Wisconsin 74 17. Arizona State 57 Pittsburgh 57 19. Texas A&M 49 20. Kentucky 46 21. Hawaii 36 22. BYU 22 23. Purdue 20 24. Florida State 17 25. Washington 9
On the Horizon
Michigan will start its Big Ten schedule with a dual meet at Wisconsin on Friday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. CST. The meet will take place in Madison, Wis., at the UW's Natatorium.
Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
