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Spartans Head To Big Ten Men's Swimming & Diving Championships
 
2008 Big Ten Mens Swimming & Diving Championships set for Feb. 28-March 1 at Michigan
 
 
 

 
Senior Adam Schmitt leads the MSU men's swimming & diving team to the Big Ten Swim Championships this weekend in Ann Arbor.
 
 

Feb. 27, 2008

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Michigan State men's swimming & diving will take its most talented team in years to the Big Ten Men's Swimming & Diving Championships this weekend. The three-day event begins with the 500 free, 200 IM and 50 free preliminary rounds on Thursday, Feb. 28 at noon at Michigan's Canham Natatorium.

"I feel like right now, this is the best team we've had in a long time," head coach Matt Gianiodis said. "But we'll see how we get through the weekend."

The Spartans are led by senior Adam Schmitt, who is the team's top performer in the sprint freestyles and IM events. Schmitt owns the team's top times this season in the 50 free (20.89), 100 free (44.77), 200 free (1:38.34) and the 200 IM (1:51.78). His 1:38.34 200 free performance, which was set Jan. 25 against Oakland, is a Busbey Natatorium record. With the clock ticking on his Spartan career, Schmitt is poised to score in multiple events at the league meet.

"This is his last Big Ten meet, and he's a leader now," Gianiodis said. "He needs to swim like a leader, and I think he will."

Freshman L. Colby Ward and sophomore Krzysztof Olszewski are the team's top distance swimmers. Ward owns MSU's best times in the 500, 1,000 and mile free, while Olszewski is second in each event. Olszewski is also at the top of MSU's 400 IM list with a time of 4:04.93.

Freshman kevin Puskaric and sophomore Marcus Poteete lead MSU in the breaststroke and butterfly, respectively. Puskaric is at his best in the 200 breast, where his 1:59.14 top time is good enough to make the NCAA `B' qualifying standard. Poteete, an Olympic Trials qualifier, has clocked a team-best 49.68 in the 100 fly this season, and 1:52.14 in the 200 fly. Both times are just short of the NCAA `B' standards.

 

 

Sophomore Jon LaRocque is the team's top backstroke swimmer. He set team top times in the 50 back (23.91) and 100 back (51.22) at the Ohio State Invitational in November, and posted a team-best 1:52.48 in the 200 back in the season finale against Oakland on Jan. 25. The Spartans also have two strong divers in sophomores Ivan Zalessov and David Garry.

Michigan State will need top performances from everyone on the team, as the Big Ten Championships field is a tough one. Seven of the nation's top 18 teams in the latest CSCAA poll are Big Ten squads, and an eighth team is among those receiving votes. No. 4 Michigan, No. 7 Indiana and No. 8 Minnesota highlight the 10-team field.

"It's a really strong field. I think it's the strongest field in the country without a doubt," Gianiodis said. "There are seven teams ranked, and I feel Wisconsin (receiving votes) is a top 25 team."

Competition begins with preliminary rounds at noon each day. Minnesota is the reigning Big Ten champion.