Men's Swimming to Host Miami Invitational
11/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 29, 2005
Miami Invitational Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Miami Invite Schedule/Order of Events in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
In its first home competition of the season, the Miami University men's swimming and diving team (3-1, 2-0 MAC) returns to action this weekend when it hosts the Miami Invitational Dec. 1-3 at the Nixon Aquatic Center. The RedHawks are one of 11 men's teams participating in the meet as other schools include Cincinnati, Cleveland State, Denison, Denver, Emory, Johns Hopkins, Oakland, Wabash, Wheeling Jesuit and Wright State.
BOARD OF EDUCATION: At the Indiana Invitational on Nov. 18-20 in which the RedHawks traveled only their diving sqaud, freshman Chris Heaton was the only Miami diver to place in all three diving events. Heaton placed fourth on the one-meter board, 11th on the three-meter board and 12th on the platform. In the one-meter board, Miami placed four divers in the finals as Heaton was the top finisher in fourth. He was followed by seniors Zach Niehaus, Nick Kleinert, and Eric Teske who finished ninth, 10th and 12th, respectively. In the three-meter board, three RedHawks placed in the finals as Niehaus, Heaton and Teske placed sixth, 11th and 12th, respectively.
FOR ALL YOUR HARDWARE NEEDS: In the first month of the season, a Miami men's athlete has been named the Mid-American Conference Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week on three occasions as senior diver Zach Niehaus and junior swimmer Paul Ricard combined to win the first three weekly conference awards. Niehaus was the latest RedHawk to win the award on Nov. 15 after he swept the boards in Miami's 145-96 win against Ball State (Nov. 12), and Ricard was named the conference's swimmer of the week for the first two weeks of the season (Nov. 1 and Nov. 8). Miami has won three of the first four athlete of the week awards, and the only other MAC athlete to win the award was Kurtis Leer of Ball State on Nov. 22.
TWICE THE FUN: One month into the season, junior Paul Ricard and senior Zach Niehaus are the only two Miami athletes this season to post multiple wins at a meet. Ricard has accomplished the feat twice, most recently against Ball State (Nov. 12) as he tallied first-place finishes in the 200 free (1:44.39) and 200 fly (1:58.17). Ricard also posted a pair of individual wins in the season-opening meet against Cleveland State (Oct. 28) as he won both the 100 free (9:20.44) and 500 free (4:34.58). With wins in six of the eight events he has entered, Ricard has the most individual wins of any athlete on the squad. As for Niehaus, he swept the boards against Ball State (Nov. 12), giving him three total wins on the season. It was the first sweep of the diving events for Miami this season.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: Ten different Miami athletes have tallied top finishes this season, led by two-time MAC Swimmer of the Week Paul Ricard. Ricard has won six events this season to pace Miami's 3-1 start, and he is one of six RedHawks to win more than one event. Theo Kuczek, Zach Niehaus and Scott Robson have each posted three individual wins this season, while Griffin Marshall, and Blake Norman have posted two wins. Four other athletes -- Zachary Siegel, Chris Heaton, Andrew O'Neill and Scott DuCharme -- have each won one event.
REDHAWK ROOKIES: Competing in their first season in the Red and White, a trio of freshmen, Scott DuCharme, Chris Heaton and Zachary Siegel have all notched wins this season for Miami. DuCharme is the most recent RedHawk to earn his first college win as his first victory came against Ball State (Nov. 12) when he was the top finisher in the 500 free. Heaton earned his first collegiate win on the three-meter dive (291.15) against Buffalo (Oct. 29), while Siegel's first win also came against Buffalo in the 50 free (22.29).
2005 PREVIEW: After finishing second at last season's Mid-American Conference Championships and placing nine athletes on the all-conference squad, the Miami men's swimming and diving team heads into the 2005-06 season looking to improve on their second-place conference finish. Head coach Pete Lindsay returns 17 letterwinners and seven all-MAC swimmers from last season's squad, and that group will be seeeking Miami's seventh overall MAC title. The RedHawks were picked second in the preseason poll and have finished as the conference runner-up in each of the last two seasons.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?: Miami welcomes back an experienced squad this season as it boasts a 14-member junior/senior class led by All-MAC First Team honoree Scott Robson. In addition to Robson, All-MAC Second Team performers Pat Carroll, Michael Donohoe, Justin Marcy, Griffin Marshall and Brian O'Rourke all return to help Miami challenge the reigning MAC Champion Eastern Michigan Eagles.