Michigan
West Virginia
Michigan Topples No. 25 Buckeyes in Columbus
1/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Jan. 30, 2016
» Freshman Siobhán Haughey won three events against Ohio State (100 FR, 200 FR, 200 IM).
» Four different divers collected top-five finishes (Nicole Honey, Sarah Kamstra, Allie Murphy, Keegan McCaffrey).
Site: Columbus, Ohio (McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion)
Scores: #6 Michigan 162, #25 Ohio State 138
Records: U-M (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten), OSU (9-2, 1-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 6 -- vs. Michigan State (Canham Natatorium), Noon
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With less than three weeks until the Big Ten Championships, the No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team continued its strong push, toppling No. 25 Ohio State, 162-138, on Saturday (Jan. 30) inside the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, the program's first victory over the Buckeyes in Columbus in eight years. The Wolverines also swam against West Virginia, though that was not scored.
The meet marked the collegiate debut of Yirong Bi, the Chinese international who joined the team at semester. Bi, who goes by Rose, impressed in her first races, winning the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:42.32) and taking second in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.98) and 500-yard freestyle (4:45.40). Fellow freshman Siobhán Haughey continued her year-long dominance, winning the 100-yard freestyle (48.58), 200-yard freestyle (1:46.74) and 200-yard IM (1:58.91).
But the freshmen weren't the only ones to shine on Saturday. Sophomore Clara Smiddy threw down a couple pretty impressive in-season times to win the 100-yard backstroke (53.89) and 200-yard backstroke (1:55.38), while classmate Emily Kopas won the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.24) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:14.20). Sophomore Gillian Ryan showed her range of speed across the freestyle events, winning the 500-yard freestyle (4:44.92), taking third in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:58.69) and fifth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.60).
The Wolverines scored valuable points thanks to their depth. In an intriguing match-up of two of the Big Ten's top sprinters, senior captain Ali DeLoof went stroke-for-stroke with Ohio State's Liz Li, finishing second (22.46). She was also third in the 100-yard freestyle (49.36). Senior Zoe Mattingly led a 2-3-4-5 finish of Wolverines in the 100-yard butterfly (55.35), as she was followed on the wall by Smiddy (55.51), freshman Astrid Swensen (55.77) and sophomore Samantha Yeo (56.19). Swensen also took second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:00.66).
Michigan also took second in both relays. The foursome of A. DeLoof, Kopas, Mattingly and Haughey finished second in the 200-yard medley relay (1:39.99), while freshman Catie DeLoof, Smiddy, A. DeLoof and freshman Becca Postoll were second in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:20.58).
The divers had a strong meet, with four student-athletes earning top-five finishes. U-M went 2-3-4 on platform, led by Nicole Honey (228.65). She was followed by junior Allie Murphy (228.55) and senior Sarah Kamstra (225.50). On three-meter, Murphy was second (310.45), followed by Kamstra in fourth (286.20) and junior Keegan McCaffrey in fifth (273.20).
The Wolverines have a home competition next Saturday (Feb. 6) for the first time in over three months, as the men's and women's teams face in-state foe Michigan State. The meet will begin at noon inside Canham Natatorium. Prior to the start of the meet, Michigan's men's and women's senior classes will be honored on deck in a special ceremony.
Communications Contact: Brad Rudner
Players Mentioned
