Weekly Release #2
10/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Upcoming Schedule
Fri/Sat., Oct. 19-20 -- at Florida (Gainesville, Fla.), 7 p.m./10 a.m.
Fri/Sat., Nov. 2-3 -- at Indiana and Texas (Bloomington, Ind.), Noon/Noon
This Week: The University of Florida
The University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team will travel to Gainesville, Fla., for the "National Dual Meet of the Week" against Florida Friday and Saturday (Oct. 19-20) in the Stephen C. OConnell Center. Friday's events begin at 7 p.m. and Saturday's action begins at 10 a.m.
Schedule of Events (Oct. 19)
One-meter diving
200-meter freestyle relay
400-meter freestyle
200-meter individual medley
50-meter freestyle
400-meter medley relay
Schedule of Events (Oct. 20) 10 a.m.
200-meter medley relay
400-meter individual medley
100-meter butterfly
200-meter freestyle
100-meter breaststroke
100-meter backstroke
800-meter freestyle relay
Schedule of Events (Oct. 20) 7 p.m.
Three-meter diving
1,500-meter freestyle
200-meter backstroke
100-meter freestyle
200-meter breaststroke
200-meter butterfly
400-meter freestyle relay
Michigan vs. Florida
This weekend's meet will mark the eighth contest between Michigan and Florida, with Michigan holding a 5-2 all-time record against the Gators. Last season, Florida defeated Michigan, 135-106, snapping the Wolverines undefeated season opener streak of 38 years.
Scouting the Opponents
Florida -- Last year, the Gators posted a record of 8-5, 4-2 in the SEC. Florida finished second at the SEC Championships and fourth overall at the NCAA Championships. The program has finished in the top three in the SEC and in the top 10 in the NCAA every season under nine-year head coach Gregg Troy. Florida on the Internet: www.gatorzone.com.
Last Time in the Pool
The Wolverines opened their 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).
We're Going Live
If you are 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 all of Michigan's home scheduled dual meets in 2007-08.
New Faces
The Wolverines welcome nine new faces to the team for the 2007-08 season: Tyler Clary (Riverside, Calif./Poly HS), 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).
Leader of the Pack
Head coach Bob Bowman returns for his fourth season at the helm of the U-M men's swimming and diving program. Last season, Bowman led the Wolverines to a dual meet record of 6-5-1, including a 3-1-1 mark in the Big Ten. Following the dual meet season, Bowman led 10 members to the NCAA Championships, where U-M took seventh place in the final team standings.
Defering Enrollment
Iincoming freshman Dan Madwed (Stamford, Conn./Towson HS) has decided to defer his enrollment until the fall of 2008 in order to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Swimming For Gold in Beijing
The Michigan program looks to continue its long tradition of Olympic success at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China. A group of athletes from the University of Michigan men's swimming program were posted on the 2007-08 U.S. National Team roster. The list includes current members junior Matt Patton (Matthews, N.C./Butler HS), who has the sixth-best time in the 400-meter freestyle, sophomore Scott Spann (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS), who holds the fifth-best time in the 200-meter breaststroke, and senior Alex Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS), who is listed sixth in two events -- the 400-meter IM and 200-meter butterfly.
Three former Wolverine stars are listed in different events: Peter Vanderkaay (first in the 400-meter freestyle and second in the 200-meter freestyle), Chris DeJong (fourth in the 200-meter backstroke), and Davis Tarwater (second in the 200-meter butterfly and fourth in the 100-meter butterfly).
Volunteer coach Michael Phelps holds top-three times in eight events, including the best mark in the 200- and 400-meter IM, the 100- and 200-meter butterfly and the 200-meter freestyle. He ranks second in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke and third in the 400-meter freestyle.
Madwed, who signed a National Letter of Intent with U-M in fall 2006 and deferred his enrollment until 2008, is on the National Team roster, owning the fifth-best time in the 200-meter butterfly. He won a bronze medal in the event at the 2007 World University Games.
The All-Americans
The 2007-08 Wolverines feature seven returning NCAA All-Americans from the 2006-07 season. Alex Vanderkaay and Matt Patton each claimed three All-America honors, while Scott Spann, junior Sal Barba (Hudson, Mass./St. Johns HS), junior Curtis Dauw (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East HS), junior Bobby Savulich (Edison, N.J./Saint Joseph HS) and senior Dane Grenda (Hockessin, Del./Salesianum HS) each claimed one title. Vanderkaay earned his first of the three when he won the NCAA National Championship in the 400-yard IM.
Conference Crowns
Michigan returns four Big Ten Champions and All-Big Ten first-team selections from a year ago. Matt Patton finished first in the 500-yard freestyle and the 1,650-freestyle, and Patton helped the Wolverines claim the title in the 800-yard freestyle relay at the 2007 Big Ten Championships. Alex Vanderkaay won the 400-yard IM and the 200-yard butterfly, and Vanderkaay was also a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay. Bobby Savulich finished first in the 200-yard freestyle, and Savulich finished first with Vanderkaay, Savulich and Sal Barba in the 800-yard freestyle relay. All four earned All-Big Ten first-team citations as members of the championship relay team.
On the Horizon
After a two-week hiatus, the Wolverines will travel to Bloomington, Ind., for back-to-back dual meets against Indiana and Texas. U-M will face the Hoosiers Friday, Nov. 2, at noon, and Michigan battles Texas Saturday (Nov. 3) at noon. Both meets will be held in the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
Contact: Jeremiah W. Hergott (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
