RedHawk Men's Swimming and Diving Team Hosts Purdue
10/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 30, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio - The undefeated Miami University men's swimming and diving team faces its toughest test of the young season this Friday at 6 p.m. as it entertains the Purdue Boilermakers. The event will be held at MU's Corwin Nixon Aquatic Center. There is no admission charge.
Coach Pete Lindsay's RedHawks gave him Miami coaching victory No. 145 last Saturday when they defeated Xavier, 148-112. With the triumph, Lindsay become the winningest Miami coach in terms of dual meets, surpassing the record of 144 set by Raymond Ray from 1952-74. Lindsay has served as Miami's head coach since 1985.
Several Miami swimmers won individual events last Friday, led by MIKE CARROLL (Toledo) who registered victories in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke races. That performance earned him Mid-American Conference Swimmer of the Week honors. Other RedHawk winners against Xavier included freshman CHRIS GUNNELS (Chapel Hill, NC) in the 1,000-yard freestyle, freshman BRENDAN MELLING (Solon) in the 200 and 500 freestyles, senior ANDY NEFF (Chesterland) in the 50 free and 100 butterfly, sophomore Darin Smith (Bossier City, LA) in the 200 backstroke, and the 400 freestyle relay unit of Gunnels, senior ZAC SIEGEL (Wilmette, IL), sophomore Lenny Wanta (Burr Ridge, IL) and sophomore Jason Hass (Jackson, MI).
Miami also got personal bests from freshman KEGAN ROGERS (Libertyville, IL) with a time of :23.01 in the 50 freestyle and senior BROOKS COWAN (Troy, MI) with a :53.70 clocking in the 100 butterfly.
The Purdue men's swimming and diving team was ranked 16th in the first college swimming coaches poll, released Oct. 17. The Boilermakers finished last season at No. 12. Purdue is coming off a dominating performance in their season opener. The Boilermakers hosted Ball State, Indianapolis and IUPUI last Saturday at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center and posted 887.50 points, easily taking first place. The Purdue men won 11 of 12 events, including both relays. The team of senior Tim Watts, junior Aaron Koger, freshman Kyle House and senior Andrew Langenfeld took the 200 medley relay in 1:31.81, while seniors Ben Roscoe, Luke Zehrung, Mike Hedge and John Schmitt won the 200 free relay in 1:26.18.
Lindsay says that Purdue will present a strong challenge to Miami.
"Purdue carries 37 athletes to our 28, so they have a talented and deep team to draw from," said Lindsay. "Last year was the resumption of a long rivalry with Purdue. They were our first dual meet in this pool when we christened it in 1995 and we were one of the first to compete in their new pool when it opened a few years back. This meet gives our student-athletes a chance to compete against the very best."
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