Jan. 15, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Purdue's nationally ranked swimming and diving teams smacked the Michigan State Spartans in Saturday dual meet action. The No. 17 men's team won, 147-89, and the 20th-ranked women's squad won, 168-75.
"Both our team's beat Michigan State by far more than we expected," said men's head coach Dan Ross, whose team improved to 9-0 on the season. "We also beat them by more than they expected, so they were extremely disappointed."
The women's team victory lifted its dual-meet record to 3-1.
Women's head coach Cathy Wright-Eger was pleased with many of her swimmers, especially Christine Leupold, who won the 200 individual medley and with the 400 medley and freestyle relays.
"She's been doing a great job over the last few months," said Wright-Eger. "If I could pick one adjective to describe her, it would be `unstoppable'; she's definitely on a mission."
Susan Hentschel also matched Leupold's win total, sharing the pair of relay victories, and taking first in the 100 freestyle (50.93). Once again, Hentschel's prowess proved to be the difference in the 400 free relay, taking her team past Michigan State over the last few laps. The Boilermakers beat the Spartans in the day's final event, 3:28.29 to 3:29.85.
Erica Chandler was the only other Boilermaker to win more than one race, capturing the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke titles. Chandler won the 200 back in 2:06.01 and the 200 free in 1:51.45.
"Erica is really stepping up as a team leader, which has benefitted the entire team," said Wright-Eger after the meet.
Other Boilermaker standouts included Jennifer Merte, who recorded a personal best in winning the 500 freestyle (5:06.98). Rory Belk set a pool record in the 200 breaststroke of 2:19.40, and freshman walk-on Rachael Helman won her first collegiate race in come-from-behind fashion, winning the 200 butterfly in 2:10.57.
The men's team was just as dominant, winning 10 of 13 events, sweeping the top three spots in five of them: 1,000 free, 200 fly, 200 back, 500 free and 3-meter diving.
Purdue's big three combo of Louis Paul, Giordan Pogioli and Romain Maire led the club with two wins each. Paul and Pogioli kicked off the meet with a win in the 400 medley relay, teaming with John Mullen and Trey Smith.
Paul's 100 back leadoff split in the 400 medley relay (49.60) was one of three pool records recorded by the Boilermakers, along with Pogioli's winning 1:59.28 in the 200 breast, and the 400 medley relay's mark of 3:21.36.
"Giordan has been unbelievable this season," said Ross. "It's great to see him swimming faster than ever before, and I sense that he keeps gaining more and more confidence as the season goes on."
Paul's second victory came in the 200 IM, beating Pogioli to the finish line by more than two seconds. Maire's victories came in the 200 free (1:40.19) and 200 back (1:49.30). Friday against Eastern Michigan, Maire won three races: 400 IM, 100 back, and with the 200 free relay.
The divers were solid as always with a Purdue diver winning in three of the four competitions; MSU's Danielle Williams edged Amanda Miller off the 3-meter springboard, winning by less than two points.
Carrie McCambridge and Miller finished one-two off the 1-meter, scoring point totals of 283.29 and 278.68.
For the men, Steven LoBue won the 1-meter title over teammate Josh Karshen, 307.50 to 272.17. However, Karshen rebounded off the 3-meter, scoring a winning total of 326.02 points. The junior was followed by teammates Clayton Davis (307.65) and LoBue (303.90).
The women return home next Saturday to play host to Indiana, while the men have the weekend off. The two teams swim again together Jan. 28 and 29, welcoming Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois to the Boilermaker Aquatic Center for a series of dual meets.