College Swimming News: The No. 15 Minnesota men’s swimming and diving team continued their success Saturday as they wrapped up the Minnesota Challenge. The Gophers notched 15 first-place finishes on the day in front of the home crowd at the University Aquatic Center.
“I thought we had a lot of really good swimmers and I think a lot of promising swims for down the road for those student-athletes,” head swim coach Kelly Kremer said about the meet. “We had some seniors that probably finished their career tonight. I just saw a lot of smiles and I feel good about how they finished the season.”
Mikey Ross opened the day with two victories for the Maroon and Gold. In 3-meter diving, the senior marked a season-high score of 421.80 and in platform notched a 367.85.
The Gophers dominated in the relays on the day, winning all three out of three. In the 200 medley relay the men’s A team finished in 1:31.75. The B team clocked in at 6:45.92 in the 800 free relay and in the final event of the night, the A team finished in 3:08.56 in the 400 free relay.
The men’s 100 fly was a tight race between the Gophers but it was Ben Bravence who prevailed for first-place with his season-best time of 49.18. In the 200 fly Drew Johnson clinched the victory, touching the wall at 1:52.47.
In the freestyle events on the day, Danny Brebrick earned first-place honors in the 200 free with his new season-best time of 1:39.41. Brian Gorman swam the 1,650 in 16:06.28 for the victory while Hrvoje Capan beat out all others in the 100 free in his season top-time of 44.82 for first.
Jared Anderson added two victories for the Gophers on the day. The senior captain finished in 54.77 for first-place in the 100 breast as well as swimming the 200 breast in 2:02.85 for the win.
Two career-best times were notched during the backstrokes for the Gophers. Jimmy Rafter clinched his new top-time of 49.85 in the 100 back for first-place honors while Grant Alef swam a best 1:47.65 for the win in the 200 back.
Sophomore Luke Bushman swam a quick 400 IM, marking a new season-best time of 3:57.63 to win the event.
The Gophers travel to Bloomington, Indiana February 27th – March 2nd for the 2013 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships.
“For our teams getting ready for the Big Ten Championships, really a lot of great stuff,” Kremer said. “Yesterday, I hate to even start talking about it but there were so many good things. Derek Toomey going under 20 on the men’s side, I didn’t realize how few we had of those. He might have been maybe the third or fourth person that’s ever done that at Minnesota unshaved and unrested… We had a bunch of great swims yesterday all-around, both men and women. We’re in a good position for what’s to come.”
Gopher Women:
The No. 16 Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team continued their success Saturday as they wrapped up the Minnesota Challenge. The Gophers notched 12 first-place finishes on the day in front of the home crowd at the University Aquatic Center.
“I thought we had a lot of really good swimmers and I think a lot of promising swims for down the road for those student-athletes,” head coach Kelly Kremer said about the meet. “We had some seniors that probably finished their career tonight. I just saw a lot of smiles and I feel good about how they finished the season.”
Maggie Keefer had a strong day on the boards, clinching a new career-best score in 3-meter diving. The junior marked a 380.50 to earn a victory for the Maroon and Gold. In platform, Katie Grunawalt scored a 277.35 for first-place honors.
The Gophers 200 medley relay made up of Marina Spadoni, Kierra Smith, Chloe Portela and Monica Radecke finished in 1:44.62 for first-place honors. Minnesota’s A 400 free relay of Radecke, Spadoni, Natalie Herrild and Amelia Marsh also claimed a title with a time of 3:28.50.
Portela notched another victory on the day in the 100 fly, touching the wall at 56.13.
In the 200 fly, it was Christie Clarke that claimed the title with a new career top-time of 2:03.41.
In the freestyle events on the day, Blake Zeiger earned first-place honors in the 200 free with a new career top-time of 1:48.14. Clarke added her second win of the day in the 1,650, swimming a 17:06.87, while Spadoni beat out all others in the 100 free in 50.87 for first.
Other victories for the Gophers came from Lauren Weis in 100 breast, finishing first in 1:06.47 as well as Tori Simenec in the 100 back, finishing at 56.53 for first-place honors.
Freshman Samantha Harding has been coming up big for the Gophers lately. She won the 400 IM on the day with a career top-time of 4:24.70 to win the event.
The Gophers will compete next at the 2013 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships February 20-23 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
“For our teams getting ready for the Big Ten Championships, really a lot of great stuff,” Kremer said. “We’re in a good position for what’s to come.”
This is an unedited press release.