Miami University
Cincinnati
RedHawks-Bearcats Swim to 150-150 Tie
1/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 15, 2010
By Alyssa Kozlow
OXFORD, Ohio--So, just how rare is a tie in swimming? A search through the record book revealed that before Friday night's meet between Miami and Cincinnati, it had only happened three times.
Thanks to a thrilling first- and third-place finish in the final event, the 200 free style relay, the RedHawks recorded a tie for just the fourth time in its history, a 150-150 deadlock with the arch-rival Bearcats.
Miami's A team edged UC's A team by 36/100ths of a second behind the unit of Mark Healey, John Eick, Chris Gunnels, and Dave Brown. Miami's B team captured an all-important third place to cause the deadlock.
Starting the evening with a solid win, the RedHawk men's 200 yard medley relay team (Gunnels, Mike Carroll, Rob Jackson and Brown) took first with a time of 1:34.22.
UC's Stiofan Cunningham won the men's 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:45.75. Miami took both second (Brendan Melling, 9:49.68) and third place (Darin Smith, 9:49.70).
The 200 freestyle was topped by UC's Nathan Williams (1:42.07), followed by Miami's Brown in second (1:43.30).
UC's Jeremy Peter took first in the 100 backstroke (51.53). Miami's Gunnels placed second (52.16).
Senior breaststroker Michael Carroll took his first individual win of the night in the 100-yard event, clocking in at 59.31.
As the men's meet came to the 200 butterfly event, the score was tied for the first of three different times (56-56) as Jason Hass earned top honors with a time of 1:54.97.
UC gained another win as Josh Schneider took first in the 50-yard freestyle (20.07). Schneider currently holds the second-fastest time in the country in this event. Mark Healey of the RedHawks took second place (21.77) and teammate John Eick followed close behind in third (21.93).
As the men's meet moved to diving, the RedHawks got a boost from sophomore Cameron Horner who captured first place with scores of 366.44 in the one-meter event and 383.55 in the three meter. Placing second was Miami freshman Michael Grainger (290.25 1M , 297.83 3M), followed by freshman Chris Hoppler in third (281.47 1M, 266.85 3M).
In the 100 freestyle, UC's Schneider gained his second individual victory of the night with a swim of 45.03. The RedHawks stayed strong, taking both second (Dave Brown, 46.78) and third (Anderson Whipp, 47.36).
The men's score was tied for a second time at 94-94 after the 200 yard backstroke. Jeremy Peter (UC) won the event with a swim of 1:54.05, followed by Miami senior Matt Grubb in second (1:56.96) and junior Darin Smith in third (1:57.26).
In the last stretch of the meet, Miami's Michael Carroll took his second win of the night in the 200 breaststroke, clocking in at 2:10.41. Additional points were earned by Austin Kosier who took third (2.13.97).
The 500 freestyle brought another win to the Bearcats as Stiofan Cunningham took first (4.42.45). Miami's Brendan Melling earned third place (4:42.45).
UC's Schneider took his third win of the night in the 100 yard butterfly (49.55). Following behind in a close second was Rob Jackson of the RedHawks (51.94).
Bearcat Jeremy Peter captured first place in the 200 IM (1:54.47). Taking third in the event was MU's Anderson Whipp (1:57.02).
Miami head coach Pete Lindsay was stunned by the 150-150 deadlock.
"In my 31-year career as a coach, I've only had one other tie (a 120.5-120.5 vs. Toledo in 1997)," said Lindsay. "The final event was obviously very important to tonight's success and we were lucky to hold off UC. They had better athletes, so we had to get as many seconds and thirds as we could, and hope that we could stay close. Mike Carroll and Dave Brown fought really well. They stepped up and did the job."
Miami's next action is next Saturday, when it travels to Buffalo to meet the Bulls in a Mid-American Conference dual meet.
--www.MURedHawks.com--
Players Mentioned
