Northwestern University Athletics
Men's Swimming Season in Review
3/30/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
March 30, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. -
The Northwestern men's swimming and diving record board at the Norris Aquatics Center boasts 10 new school records after season's end, thanks to a stellar campaign by the Wildcats. With those new school records came a great season which saw the Wildcats place fifth at the Big Ten Championships, the best finish in 28 years. Three All-America honors were earned and three invitational victories were won.
During the dual season, in which NU posted a 5-4 overall record and 3-3 Big Ten record, the `Cats steadily improved their times. They defeated UW-Milwaukee, Indiana, Michigan State, Iowa and Nebraska heading into the Big Ten Championships. At the Championships, nine school records were broken and every single swimmer on the team swam a personal-best time on the season in at least one of their events.
The Wildcats had a large freshman class with eight newcomers who transitioned from high school to the collegiate level very well. Tony Swanson led the way, earning All-America honors in the 200 individual medley and 200 backstroke. He set school records in the 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley while also leading off three record-setting relays. Aaron McCracken competed at the NCAA Championships in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes and now owns school records in those events. Mark Hamming picked up many crucial points for the `Cats throughout the season, establishing himself as one of NU's most versatile swimmers. Other freshmen swimming strong included Shelby Clark, Dan Williams, Tommy Lockman and Trevor Fort. Freshman diver Adam Barker had a strong opening year, finishing third on platform at the NCAA diving zones. He was the top 3-meter and platform diver for the `Cats.
Sophomore Kellan O'Connor had a stellar year, breaking his own 200 butterfly school record five times. He ended the season with a fifth-place, All-American performance at the NCAA Championships in that event with a time of 1:44.40, taking more than two seconds off his record from last season. He also held the top 100 butterfly time on the team and the second-fastest times in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
Mike Shue led the way in the distance events. He joined in on the record-breaking fun, with a 4:23.73 in the 500 freestyle. He also topped the `Cats list this season in the 1000 freestyle and 1650 freestyle, while sophomore David Hersh had the team's second fastest times in the 500 and 1650 freestyles.
Juniors Nick Barnes and Adam Kennedy swam solidly in the 50 and 100 freestyles and were each a part of school record relays. Junior diver Elliot Massuda competed at the NCAA diving zones on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards.
Seniors Steve Steketee, Jason Merchant, Todd Capen, Steve Henry, Geoff Urquhart and Chris Carey closed out their careers at Northwestern. Co-captains Capen and Steketee led the troops at the beginning of the season. Capen fell out in November with a season-ending injury, but Steketee rolled on with his anchor abilities in relays to bring the `Cats their close victories. He also broke his own school record in the 50 freestyle, set two seasons ago. His time of 20.35 came in his last meet as a Wildcat at the Big Ten Championships. Merchant was a member of the 400 freestyle relay that set a new school record.
New School Records:
50 freestyle - Steve Steketee, 20.35 (Big Ten Championships)
500 freestyle - Mike Shue, 4:23.73 (Big Ten Championships)
200 butterfly - Kellan O'Connor, 1:44.40 (NCAA Championships)
100 breaststroke - Aaron McCracken, 54.49 (Big Ten Championships)
200 breaststroke - Aaron McCracken, 1:59.16 (NCAA Championships)
200 individual medley - Tony Swanson, 1:46.56 (NCAA Championships)
400 individual medley - Tony Swanson, 3:51.48 (Big Ten Championships)
200 freestyle relay - Tony Swanson, Steve Steketee, Adam Kennedy, Nick Barnes, 1:20.65 (Big Ten Championships)
400 freestyle relay - Tony Swanson, Nick Barnes, Jason Merchant, Steve Steketee, 2:57.56 (Big Ten Championships)
400 medley relay - Tony Swanson, Aaron McCracken, Kellan O'Connor, Steve Steketee, 3:16.01 (Big Ten Championships)
