March 25, 2006
ATLANTA, Ga. - Senior Giordan Pogioli ended his collegiate career in grand fashion with a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke Saturday night at the NCAA Championships.
Pogioli finished the race in 1:55.58, posting 50-yard splits of 26.19, 29.19, 29.99 and 30.21. Conference rival, Northwestern's Mike Alexandrov, finished behind Pogioli in sixth at 1:56.46.
The national title was awarded to Cal's Henrique Barbosa, who completed the course in 1:53.97.
Pogioli's finish, combined with a third-place showing from Steven LoBue off the platform tower, gave the Boilermakers a 16th-place finish with 59 points. Purdue's finish and point total are the highest of Dan Ross' 21-year tenure as head coach.
At last season's NCAAs, Purdue finished in a tie for 20th with 40 points.
"We're real happy about where we finished and how many points we scored," said Ross. "Giordan just kept battling and battling all week and Steve was simply unbelievable on all three days; he was our MVP. Guys like Joe Colley, Romain Maire and Trey Smith are excited to try and get back here again next year."
LoBue proved himself to be one of the nation's elite divers with his bronze-medal performance off the platform tower. A performance made even more amazing by the fact that he barely qualified for finals.
LoBue overcame a pair of 30-point dives during prelims to claim the eighth and final spot with 293.85 points. During finals, LoBue was in fifth after five rounds, but jumped to third after earning 76.50 points on a back 2.5 somersault with 1.5 twists. LoBue is believed to be the first Boilermaker diver to win three consecutive All-America titles at a single NCAA Championship.
Pogioli's top-eight showing earned him a second All-America title in the 200 breast. His first came as a sophomore in 2004, competing in the 200-meter breaststroke. The Peoria, Ill., native also has captured three honorable mention All-America certificates, in the 100 and 200 breast in 2005 and with the 400 medley relay in 2006.
Pogioli leaves Purdue as one its most decorated student-athletes, in any sport. In addition to his NCAA accomplishments, he also won a Big Ten Championship in 2004, represented the United States at the World University Games and was selected to the U.S. National `B' team.
Pogioli also leaves with his name atop the varsity record book in both breaststroke races, recording a 53.60 in the 100 at this year's Big Ten Championships, and a 1:55.23 in the 200, which was registered in 2005.
"I'm trying to not to think about it," said Ross, when asked about Pogioli's final race in a Purdue uniform. "He's a tough competitor. And sure he's made mistakes, but just like a Drew Brees, he's going to do anything he possibly can to win. He was thrilled to have a team down here with him, and even happier that he scored with a relay."
Pogioli's performances this weekend helped Purdue continue an unprecedented streak, in which it has scored a swimmer in either the 100 or 200 breaststroke in 10 of the last 11 years. Vilmos Kovacs scored at four-consecutive NCAAs from 1996 to 1999, and then was preceded by Tamas Bessenyei who scored among the top 16 from 2001 to 2003.
Following Bessenyei's graduation, Pogioli scored on his own at the 2004, 2005 and 2006 NCAA Championships.
Pogioli next competes at the 8th annual FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai, China, April 5th to 9th.