Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
St. Olaf
Men's Swimming Victorious in Hawaii Meet
1/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Dec. 26, 2001
HONOLULU, Hawaii - Northwestern's men's swimming team defeated St. Olaf (Minn.), 102-80, in a meet as part of NU's Holiday Training Camp.
The Wildcats were victorious in all but two events, and midway through the meet head coach Bob Groseth began entering many of his swimmers as exhibition competitors.
The loose format of the meet allowed two NU freshmen to step up and earn their first taste of collegiate victory. Matt Wever (Boise, Idaho/Boise) was victorious in the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.25. It was the first time this season Wever competed in that event. Mike Gustafson (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) also garnered his first victory, swimming a 1:59.14 in the 200 individual medley.
Freshman Phil Mercier (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe) took first in the 100 freestyle (48.66), while teammate Nick Eggen (Phoenix, Ariz./Arcadia) placed first in the non-traditional 300 free (2:49.17) and second in the 100 backstroke (53.18). While the wins were not their first collegiate victories, they were able to compete outside the shadow of the upperclassmen.
Sophomore Tony Swanson (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) tried out the 50 free as an exhibition race and wound up tying NU's top time this season with a 21.09. Swanson normally swims the backstroke and mid-distance free events.
Other Wildcats testing new waters included distance free swimmers Mike Shue (Ft. Myers, Fla./Ft. Myers) and David Hersh (West Milford, N.J./West Milford). They took on the 100 breaststroke and finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Junior Kellan O'Connor (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Prep) did not compete for points, but would have won the 100 breast (1:00.38) and the 100 fly (50.35) had he not been an exhibition swimmer.
The divers did not compete. They were in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., for the winter break.
NU's next event will be Jan. 12, as they host Michigan State in a 2 p.m. dual at the Norris Aquatic Center.
