Michigan
Georgia
Michigan Leads After First Day At Georgia
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Site: Athens, Ga. (Gabrielsen Natatorium)
Score: #11 Michigan 76, #9 Georgia 72 (After Day 1)
Next U-M Meet: Saturday, Nov. 4 -- at Georgia (Athens, Ga.), 1:00 p.m.
ATHENS, Ga. -- The 11th-ranked University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team took and early 76-72 lead after the first day of competition at ninth-ranked Georgia on Friday (Nov. 3) at Gabrielsen Natatorium. The Wolverines were able to take the top time or score in three of the eight long-course meter events.
Michigan opened the meet with a victory in the 400-meter medley relay, as the team of sophomore Matt Patton (Matthews, N.C./Butler), freshman Scott Spann (Austin, Texas/Westlake), freshman Chris Brady (Wilmington, Del./Mount Pleasant) and sophomore Bobby Savulich (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph) led the way, swimming to an NCAA Consideration time of 3:50.76.
Scott Spann and Matt Patton were also able to capture NCAA Consideration times in two other events. Spann swam to a second place finish in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:18.50, and Patton took third in the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:03.53.
The Wolverines were able to take the top two spots in two of the events on the first day. In the 200-meter backstroke, freshman Andr Schultz (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Palmares) captured first place with a time of 2:07.69, while Matt Patton finished in second, clocking in at 2:09.75. Bobby Savulich and sophomore Evan Ryser (Katy, Texas/James E. Taylor) also took the top two places in the 100-meter freestyle. Savulich won the event in 52.00 seconds, with Ryser less than a half-second behind (52.44).
U-M also had a very strong showing in the 400-meter freestyle. Though Georgias returning NCAA 1,650-yard freestyle champion, Sebastien Rouault, earned the victory in the event (3:56.62), Michigan swimmers claimed the next four spots. Three Wolverine freshmen took spots two through four, as Andr Schultz came in second (4:02.16), Charlie Houchin (Raleigh, N.C./William G. Enloe) took third (4:03.03) and Adam DeJong (Holland, Mich./Holland) finished fourth (4:10.67). Junior Johnny Austermann (Huntington Woods, Mich./Berkley) took fifth with a time of 4:13.55.
Junior Alex Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams) was able to capture second in the 400-meter individual medley, touching the wall in 4:34.44. Junior Dane Grenda (Hockessin, Del./Salesianum) followed just over a second behind in third place (4:35.52).
The divers also competed, but were not scored.
The Wolverines return to the pool tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 4), at 1 p.m. for the final day of the meet. The events will be swum in short-course yards.
Contact: Tim Trunzo (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
