Northwestern University Athletics
Men's Swimming to Compete at Big Ten Championships
2/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 21, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Head coach Bob Groseth takes his swimming and diving team to the University of Minnesota to compete at the Big Ten Championships this Thursday-Saturday, February 22-24. The Wildcats look to improve on their ninth-place finish from last season while Michigan, Penn State and Minnesota vie for the championship.
Kellan O'Connor (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Preparatory) will be the top Wildcat to watch. O'Connor is undefeated this season in the 200 butterfly and looks to improve on his fifth-place finish in the event at last year's Big Ten Championships. He set a new school record and pool record in a home meet against Ohio State and Iowa with a time of 1:46.59, which ranks him 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten this season. It was also an NCAA qualifying B standard. O'Connor will also look to fair well in the 100 fly and 200 individual medley over the weekend.
Minnesota native Tony Swanson (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids has the fourth-best time in the Big Ten this season in the 200 individual medley (1:50.88). The freshman will also compete in the 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke.
Freshman Aaron McCracken (Naperville, Ill./Central) begins his first championships on Thursday in the 200 individual medley. Then on Friday and Saturday, he'll swim in his best events, the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. McCracken swam an NCAA qualifying B standard in the 100 against Ohio State and Iowa with a winning time of 55.95.
Other Wildcats to watch are senior captain Steve Steketee (Golden, Colo./Golden), juniors Adam Kennedy (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and Elliot Massuda (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso), sophomores Mike Shue (Ft. Myers, Fla./Ft. Myers) and Nick Barnes (Frankfort, Ind./Frankfort) and freshman Adam Barker (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington). Steketee will be swimming the 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyle while also showing his talents in the relays. Shue will vie for top positions in the 1650 and 500 freestyles while also competing in the 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle. Kennedy and Barnes dive into the pool when it's anyone's race in the quick 50 freestyle. Barker and Massuda take the plunge for the Wildcats in each of the diving events.
Results can be accessed on-line at www.gophersports.com immediately after each event. There will also be video of each event, a digital photo archive and meet notes and quotes throughout the championships on the Minnesota web site.
Check the Northwestern web site at www.nusports.com to get complete results on Wildcat athletes and updated team standings throughout the championships.
Schedule of events:
Thursday: prelims (noon) - 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 1-meter diving (1:30 p.m.), finals (7 p.m.) - 200 freestyle relay, 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 1-meter diving, 400 medley relay.
Friday: prelims (noon) - 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 3-meter diving (1:30 p.m.), finals (7 p.m.) - 200 medley relay, 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 3-meter diving, 800 freestyle relay.
Saturday: prelims (noon) - 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, platform diving (1:30 p.m.), finals (7 p.m.) - 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, platform diving, 400 freestyle relay.
