Feb. 5, 2011
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue men's swimming won both relay races and Albert Miller swept the breaststroke events, but it was not enough as Indiana spoiled the Boilermakers' home finale, 166-134, Saturday afternoon at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center.
No. 13 Indiana had the top two finishers in the 50, 200 and 1,000 freestyle; 100 backstroke; 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley. The Hoosiers dominated the 200 fly, 200 IM and 1,000 free, placing four swimmers in the top five. It was those events that allowed IU to overcome a 30-8 deficit entering the meet, which the Purdue divers built by finishing one-two in the 1-meter and platform events contested on Jan. 21.
"The first relay (,400 medley) was really we good," Purdue head coach Dan Ross said. "We got touched out in the200 free and the 1000 they had their way with us a little bit, so that was kind of frustrating. But what I really liked is our guys battled back. We came back in the second half of the meet and won two of the four events and to win both relays is big."
Brendan Joyce and Miller were the only individual winners on the day for No. 23 Purdue. Joyce captured the 100 butterfly with a time of 49.26. Miller established a new team season-best time for the fourth consecutive weekend of competition, winning the 200 breast in 2:01.75, improving on his previous mark by about 1 ½ seconds. He won the 100 breast with a time of 55.15.
"I think I had a decent 200 breast today," Miller said. "We've really been working on that, trying to get it so I can have my easy speed and bring it back. Dan has been working on that with me and I feel like our working is starting to pay off."
Matt Friede swam on both relay winners, anchoring the 400 medley relay (3:17.43) to begin the day's action. He and fellow freshman Danny Tucker swam the final two legs on the 400 free relay (2:58.47) winner. Brian Kiel, Miller and Joyce were also part of the medley team, while Ben Wachtel and Chuck Destro were the first two in the water on the freestyle quartet. Both relays recorded NCAA provisional-qualifying times. The medley team established a new season best time for Purdue while the freestyle unit set a new season-best as a foursome.
"I had some lifetime bests so I've never been that fast," Friede said. "And my best times before that were from this season. So to be going best times without being tapered is really good. It's always fun to anchor the winning relay."
Friede's strong individual showings came in the sprint freestyle events. He finished third in both the 50 and 100, establishing a new personal-best time in the 100 (45.13) and matching his best mark in the 50 (20.66).
Wachtel established a new Purdue season-best time while finishing third in the 200 free (1:38.67).
Season-best showings from Scott Dean and Drew Wolfred highlighted the day among the Purdue seniors in their final meet at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center. Dean finished third in both breaststroke events and Wolfred was second in the 500 free.
"Mark Boman, I want to tip my hat to him," Ross said. "He's been struggling all week and had not been able to eat. He asked to swim in three events and on a relay. That's what being a Boilermaker is all about. Drew Wolfred just wanted to win. I liked the way he battled and his mindset after they had their way with our distance guys in the [1000 free]. Scott Dean had lifetime bests by two seconds in his last meet ever as a Purdue Boilermaker. Just to see the smile on his face after he came through like that was huge."
Purdue returns to action next weekend for the Ohio State Winter Open in Columbus, Ohio.
Purdue Winners & Meet Highlights
*New season-best time for Purdue
+New personal season-best time
^Tied personal season-best time
(B) NCAA Provisional Qualifying Time
400 Medley Relay Team (Kiel, Miller, Joyce & Friede), 3:17.43* (B)
200 Free
Ben Wachtel, 1:38.67* - Finished Third
100 Breast
Albert Miller, 55.15
Scott Dean, 57.76+ - Finished Third
50 Free
Matt Friede, 20.66^ -- Finished Third
Benjamin Ziolkowski, 20.68+ -- Finished Fourth
100 Free
Matt Friede, 45.13+
Danny Tucker, 45.38+
Wachtel, Friede & Tucker Finished 2-3-4
200 Breast
Albert Miller, 2:01.75*
Scott Dean, 2:03.48+ -- Finished Third
500 Free
Drew Wolfred, 4:28.01+ -- Finished Second
100 Fly
Brendan Joyce, 49.26
400 Free Relay Team (Wachtel, Destro, Friede & Tucker), 2:58.47+ (B)