Northwestern University Athletics
Confident Wildcats Roll into Big Ten Championships
2/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 25, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - After one of the best dual meet seasons in Northwestern men's swimming and diving history, the Wildcats are set to take the next step in their pursuit of national success as they head to West Lafayette, Ind. for the Big Ten Championships. The championships begin with two sessions (prelims in the morning, finals later that night) on Thursday and wrap up Saturday with the same double-session format.
While Northwestern is no stranger to success in the Big Ten Championship meet, this year's Wildcats expect compete at a higher level than any NU team in history.
"I cannot remember looking forward to a Big Ten meet more than this one," said head coach Bob Groseth. "We need to get in the team hunt right away. The past few years, we have started off in sixth or seventh and clawed our way back to fourth."
Expectations are sky-high for good reason. Northwestern swimmers broke a combined total of 41 pool records this season at various venues. In one of the most dominant performances in recent Big Ten history, Northwestern set a total of 18 pool records at the Purdue Invitational -- at the same pool at which they will be competing this weekend. Five Northwestern school records have fallen as well.
Groseth is hopeful that anywhere from six to nine swimmers will walk away from the Big Ten Championships with automatic qualifications to the NCAA Championships. Anywhere from two to four NU relay teams have a legitimate chance to qualify as well. Freshmen Matt Grevers and Mike Alexandrov have already qualified to compete in the NCAA Championships. Grevers' time of 47.31 in the 100 back was an NCAA "A" time while his 43.53 time in the 100 freestyle was an "A" time as well.
Grevers heads into the Big Ten Championships with conference bests in the 50 free and 100 free (20.05; 43.53). The rookie was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week on Feb. 2 after setting a pool record in the 200 back and school records in the 100 back and 400 medley against Michigan on Jan 31. Grevers has not competed in the 50 free since Jan. 24, when he registered a first-place time of 20.26 against Notre Dame. He has not seen action in the 100 free since Jan. 16 against Michigan State, where he recorded a first-place time of 44.40. Regardless of his inactivity in the sprint free, he enters the championship meet as one of the favorites.
Alexandrov, a native of Bulgaria, posted the nation's second-best 200-yard breast time of 1:55.91 around mid-season, but has not competed much since. In the 100-yard breast, Alexandrov is ranked second in the conference to Purdue's Tamas Bessenyei with a mark of 54.80.
At the all-star Purdue Invitational in November, the rookie finished runner-up to Wyoming's Scott Usher in the 200, and the previous week led a Wildcat sweep of the top-three spots in the 200 against Wisconsin; the sweep included teammates Louis Torres and Kevin Donohue.
Those Northwestern swimmers who have yet to qualify for the NCAA's will certainly have the chance this weekend. Seniors Tony Swanson and Mark Hamming are two swimmers Northwestern is counting heavily on.
Swanson gives the Wildcats depth in the sprint free events when teaming with Grevers. Swanson, a former Big Ten Swimmer of the Week, holds the second best 100 free time (44.00) in the conference right behind Grevers. He recorded his career best on Jan. 24 against Michigan; a time also doubled as a new Norris Aquatics Center pool record. Also against the Maize and Blue, Swanson clocked a season best in the 50 free with a time of 20.42. Swanson is also one of the top backstroke swimmers in the Big Ten and should fare well in the 100 and 200 back events.
Hamming holds the conference's sixth-best time in the 100 fly (48.63) and the second-best mark in the 200 fly (1:46.06). Hamming recently finished runner-up to Michigan's Davis Tarwater in the 200 fly with a time of 1:48.68. The senior bounced back the following week to grab the gold medal against Iowa in the 200 fly with a time of 1:46.22. At the 2003 Big Ten Championships, Hamming finished fourth in the 100 fly (48.19) and third in the 200 fly (1:45.65).
Relay events figure to be one of Northwestern's most productive areas in the Big Ten Championships. The relay teams rank in the top five in the conference in all five events and could provide NU with a wealth of points.
For the latest results, live scoring and other meet information, visit Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships or Purdue Men's Swimming and Diving.
