March 1, 2008
Complete Big Ten Awards in PDF Format 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermakers left Ann Arbor, Mich., and the Big Ten Championships with much to cheer about Saturday night after their 400 freestyle relay set a new varsity record of 2:56.29.
Senior Eddie Kenney led off the sixth-place relay with a 100-yard freestyle split and personal best of 44.94 seconds. John Mullen, Romain Maire and John Schmitt followed with splits of 43.73, 43.72 and 43.90.
Purdue's record-breaking achievement marked the second time in as many years that its 400 free relay ended the championships by establishing a new school record.
Last year at Ohio State, the team of Schmitt, Trey Smith, Maire and Kenney clocked a time of 2:57.41 that broke the previous record of 2:57.49, which had stood since 1998.
Purdue's best relay showing of the weekend helped the program claim fifth place with a team record 488.5 points, which was its highest total since placing fourth in 1997 with 384 points.
The Boilermakers came into this weekend hoping to finish higher, but they were the sixth-place team each of the last two years at Big Ten's and were seventh as recently as 2003.
"Overall, it was a great meet all told and everyone did a great job," said head coach Dan Ross. "The relay at the end swam unbelievably even without Andrew Langenfeld."
Host Michigan dominated the meet from start to finish and collected 1081.5 points in winning its first conference crown since 2003.
Defending champion Indiana was a distant second with 855 points while the 2004 and 2005 champion Minnesota Golden Gophers held off Ohio State for third place 682.5 to 680.5.
The Buckeyes could have easily finished third after Minnesota's 400 free relay was disqualified, but the Scarlet and Gray mustered only a seventh-place time of 2:57.74.
Finishing behind Purdue were Northwestern (438), Wisconsin (363), Penn State (318), Iowa (187) and Michigan State (159).
Individually, Maire held onto his fourth-place spot in the 200 backstroke with a season best of 1:43.62. His time just missed breaking Louis Paul's varsity record of 1:43.51 as well as his own personal best of 1:43.54.
Ilia Ayzenshtok collected the 18th point, finishing his race in 1:47.83.
Sam Wilcher looked to be in position to win the 200 butterfly after placing second in prelims with a varsity record of 1:45.53, however, the sophomore could not keep pace with some of the Big Ten's more established veterans and finished sixth in 1:46.39.
"Sam struggled a little bit with the other guys jumping out on him," said Ross. "It was a rookie or rather sophomore mistake, but he had a great meet and I'm sure he'll learn from it. I just hope we can get him to NCAA's."
Luke Zehrung moved up two places from 18th to 16th in the 200 fly 'C' finals even though his finals time of 1:48.52 was slightly up from his prelim mark of 1:48.28.
200 breaststroke swimmers Aaron Koger and Jin-Soo Kim finished toward the middle of the pack with their ninth and 11th-place showings. Koger completed the course in 1:59.95 and Kim lowered his season best time to a 2:00.24.
Schmitt, Mullen and Langenfeld placed 15th, 16th and 18th, respectively, in the 100 free. All three of their times were up from prelims, but Schmitt's difference was the least noticeable as he touched the wall in 44.75.
Purdue solidified the fifth-place showing thanks to its diving corps of David Colturi, Kyle Mitrione and Zach Schultz. Colturi was the highest finisher of the group, totaling a fifth-place score of 382.05 points.
Mitrione came in eighth place with 328.35 points and Schultz was ninth with 321.10 points.
Purdue returns home to the Boilermaker Aquatic Center on Sunday, March 9, playing host to the Boiler-Make-It Last Chance meet. The two-session event begins at 11 a.m. Admission is free.