Feb. 25, 2009
Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championship Meet Page
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
This Weekend
It all comes down to the next three days as 10 teams compete for the Big Ten Championships. Penn State has one championship to its name which was acquired in 1999, and on the 10 year anniversary the Nittany Lions are looking to add to their collection.
Setting the Scene
Defending Big Ten Champion and No. 4 Michigan is coming into the meet as the heavy favorite while No. 7 Indiana is looking to take over. Ohio State an Minnesota aren't far behind in the No. 9 and No. 11 spots respectively while Purdue is checking in at No. 14. Penn State rounds out the Big Ten in the College Swim Coaches Association of America poll at No. 20, but Wisconsing and Iowa aren't far behind receiving votes.
Penn State in the Big Ten Championships
The Nittany Lions are looking to repeat history and claim their second Big Ten Championship on the 10 year anniversary of their first. Penn State's last and only men's swimming conference championship came in 1999 when the Nittany Lions earned 600 points over Minnesota's 588 to claim the crown by 12 points. Previous individual champions include:
Bob Molettiere
50 Freestyle - 2001 and 2002
100 Freestyle - 1999
Eugene Botes
100 Freestyle - 2002
100 Butterfly - 2001 and 2003
Thad Davis
100 Butterfly - 1993
Joe Peresan
200 IM - 2001
Mike Alderman
1-meter diving - 2006
Chris DeVine
3-meter diving - 1994
Eight Qualify for NCAA Championships
Penn State has a strong tradition of advancing swimmers to the NCAA Championships. So far this season, eight have posted NCAA qualifying standard times in a variety of events.
Brian Alden
400 Free Relay
400 Medley Relay
Dito Calderon
1650 Free
Jon Cochrane
800 Free Relay
Basil Kaaki
800 Free Relay
400 Medley Relay
David Kraft
1650 Free
Patrick Schirk
100 Back
200 Back
800 Free Relay
400 Medley Relay
Chris Sullivan
1650 Free
Tim Williams
200 Butterfly
400 Medley Relay
2008-09 Highlights
The Nittany Lions got the year off on the right foot with a trip to West Virginia and a 145-93 victory over the Mountaineers. The competition heated up though as they headed south to Texas to battle with No. 17 Texas A&M and No. 21 Southern Methodist. Penn State competed well at the site of the 2009 NCAA Championships in College Station, upending the Aggies 140-102. The first loss of the season came in Dallas at the hands of the Mustangs where Penn State dropped the 134.5-106.5 decision. The slump continued through November with losses to No. 15 Virginia (228-120) and Florida State (225.5-127.5). The Lions snapped a three meet losing streak at the Ohio State Invitational in December where they set new records and qualified eight for the NCAA Championships. Tim Williams reset his school record in the 200 butterfly and also set a meet record with his time of 1:44.61. Penn State closed out the meet placing third in a field of 10. The annual winter training camp sent the Nittany Lions to Naples, Fla. for two weeks, and they came back stronger than ever. Their strength and speed was apparent at dual meets with Maryland and Pitt which Penn State easily handled taking convincing victories by over 100 points ahead of each team. The end of January saw a preview of the Big Ten Championships as Penn State returned to Columbus, Ohio for duals with No. 9 Ohio State, No. 3 and defending Big Ten Champion Michigan and Northwestern. After two days of intense competition, Penn State defeated Northwestern 193.50138.5 while falling to Ohio State 258-76 and Michigan 245-84. The 11 seniors swam their last meet at McCoy Natatorium in a dual meet with St. Bonaventure on February 6. As their careers were celebrated the Nittany Lions collected their sixth win of the year in a 127-105 decision.
Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships Schedule:
THURSDAY, FEB. 26
Day One Trials: Noon
1. 500 Freestyle
2. 200 IM
3. 50 Freestyle
Approx. 1:30 p.m.:
6. One-Meter Diving (Preliminaries and Consolation Finals)
Day One Finals: 7:00 p.m.
1. 200 Freestyle Relay
2. 500 Freestyle
3. 200 IM
4. 50 Freestyle
5. One-Meter Diving
6. 400 Medley Relay
FRIDAY, FEB. 27
Day Two Trials: Noon
1. 400 IM
2. 100 Butterfly
3. 200 Freestyle
4. 100 Breaststroke
5. 100 Backstroke
Approx. 1:30 p.m.:
6. Three-Meter Diving (Preliminaries and Consolation Finals)
Day Two Finals: 6:30 p.m.
1. 200 Medley Relay
2. 400 IM
3. 100 Butterfly
4. 200 Freestyle
5. 100 Breaststroke
6. 100 Backstroke
7. Three-Meter Diving
8. 800 Freestyle Relay
SATURDAY, FEB. 28
Day Three Trials: Noon
1. 200 Backstroke
2. 100 Freestyle
3. 200 Breaststroke
4. 200 Butterfly
Approx. 1:30 p.m.:
5. Platform Diving (Preliminaries and Consolation Finals)
6. 1650 Freestyle
Day Three Finals: 6:30 p.m.
1. 1650 Freestyle (Last heat of timed finals)
2. 200 Backstroke
3. 100 Freestyle
4. 200 Breaststroke
5. 200 Butterfly
6. Platform Diving
7. 400 Freestyle Relay
Media Coverage
For the second consecutive season, the Big Ten Network will be airing coverage of the Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships. The event will air on a delayed basis on Saturday, March 7 at 11 a.m. ET.