Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Streak Stays Afloat as U-M Cruises Past Eastern
10/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Event Recap| Complete Results| Photos
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team opened its 2007-08 season with a 156-80 victory over Eastern Michigan Friday (Oct. 12) in the waters of Canham Natatorium. The win improved Michigan's all-time record against Eastern Michigan to a perfect 28-0. The Wolverines earned the top time or score in all 15 events, including the top three spots in the 200-, 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle, the 200-yard individual medley, backstroke and breaststroke, and the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Michigan opened the meet strong, taking the top three spots in the 100-yard backstroke. Sophomore Andr Schultz (Soa Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Palmares) finished first with a time of 50.37. Junior Matt Patton (Matthews, N.C./Butler HS) and sophomore Alon Mandel (Netanya, Israel/Eldad) clocked in second and third with times 50.40 and 50.52, respectively, and sophomore Shaun Weinberg (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) finished close behind in fourth (53.75).
Freshman Tyler Clary (Riverside, Calif./Poly HS), who won the silver medal in 200-meter backstroke at the XV Pan American games, left a big impression in his collegiate debut, winning three events: the 200-yard backstroke (1:47.52), 200-yard individual medley (1:50.70) and the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:13.08).
Sophomore Chris Brady (Wilmington, Del./Mount Pleasant HS) was victorious in the 50-yard freestyle (20.78) and 100-yard butterfly (48.42). Brady's victory in the 50-yard freestyle came against Eastern Michigan's Derick Roe, who holds the EMU freshman school record in that event.
Junior Bobby Savulich (Edison, N.J./Saint Joseph) continued Michigan's success when he led a Wolverine sweep of the first three spots in the 200-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 1:40.85. Sophomore Adam DeJong (Holland, Mich./Holland HS) and senior Alex Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) were second and third, respectively, with times of 1:41.23 and 1:41.93.
U-M's two captains, NCAA national champion Vanderkaay and senior Grant Burtch (Holland, Mich./Holland HS), proved their nomination, as Vanderkaay won the 200-yard butterfly, defeating his close competitors with a time of 1:51.71. Burtch's 58.65 in the 100-yard breaststroke was good for second place -- but not enough to top teammate sophomore Scott Spann (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS), who dominated the event with a time of 55.99.
Junior Kyle Schroeder (Milan, Mich./Milan) led the way for the divers on the one- and three-meter springboards with NCAA zone diving qualifying marks of 300.55 and 316.10, respectively.
Freshmen Brad Holm (Oregon, Ill./Oregon HS), Neal Kennedy (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska HS), Jared Miller (Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East HS), Ryan Piza (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS), James Ridgeway (Chicago, Ill./Saint Patrick HS), Tony Wahl (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Jesuit HS), Sam Wensman (Durham, N.H./Oyster River HS) and Noah Whitener (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) each made their collegiate debut against the Eagles, as Michigan dominated the meet from the open. Wahl finished third in the 100-yard butterfly with a mark of 1:52.60, clocking in second behind Vanderkaay -- an All-American in the 200-yard butterfly.
The Wolverines will hit the waters again Saturday (Oct.13) for the U-M Alumni Exhibition Meet in Canham Natatorium at 9 a.m.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Bob Bowman
On the season-opening meet... "I think we met all of our objectives tonight in just getting a look at the freshmen and to see where the upper-classmen are. This was by far our best first meet since I've been here, so I'm really pleased with the result because I know we have been working extremely hard. I'm really looking forward to Florida next week."
On the freshman Tyler Clary... "Tonight demonstrated why Tyler is such a exceptional athlete because when you're able to win three events in your first meet as a freshman that's a good thing."
Michigan Diving Coach Chris Bergre
On junior Kyle Schroeder's performance... "He did a nice solid job on the one-meter -- he had some really good tops and great finishes. His last dive he got eight's on and that made him qualify for the NCAA qualifying meet. On the three-meter I was really pleased with how high he got and where he was finishing the dives. I'm really happy for him. He got a good solid start to the year and its just going to get better from here."
Contact: Jeremiah W. Hergott (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
