WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Jordan Rzepka ripped a 95-point dive in the final round to rally for silver on 3-meter and the Boilermakers claimed bronze with an NCAA automatic qualifying time in the 200 freestyle relay a few minutes later, highlighting Friday at the Big Ten Championships for Purdue swimming & diving.
Brady Samuels anchored the 200 free relay team to the medal after opening the night by breaking the program record in the 100 butterfly (45.64) for the third time this season. He also reset the freshman benchmark for the fourth time.
All five Boilermakers scored on a springboard for the second day in a row, accounting for 95 team points Friday. Greg Duncan placed fourth in a championship final for the second day in a row, his sixth career top-four finish at Big Tens. Tyler Downs was the top qualifier in the prelims and finished sixth in the final to give Purdue three of the top six.
Samuels anchored the 200 free relay quartet to bronze with a team-best 50 split of 19 seconds flat. He joined forces with seniors Nick Sherman, Ryan Hrosik and Nikola Aćin for a time of 1:16.85, good for second in program history. The Boilermakers medaled in the event for the second year in a row and claimed a relay medal at Big Tens for the third consecutive season for the first time since 2001 to 2003. Aćin and Hrosik have been part of all three medal-winning relays.
WATCH PURDUE'S FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
• Rzepka, Duncan, Downs Finish 2-4-6 in 3-Meter Diving
• Aćin, Modglin Win C Finals in 200 Free, 100 Breast
• 3-Meter Diving Prelims
Rzepka medaled in his championship final debut at Big Tens. The freshman got off to a strong start but missed his third-round dive. Then he changed his dive in the following round to a back 3 ½, earning a score of 75.6 to reinsert himself into medal contention. But it was a big score of 95.55 on his forward 2 ½ three twister as the first diver of the final round that rocketed Rzepka up the leaderboard. He bested Indiana's Quinn Henninger for silver by 0.5 tenths of a point. Rzepka's list score of 451.90 moved him into sixth place in program history.
With Downs claiming bronze on 1-meter Thursday, the Boilermakers have had two different divers win springboard medals at Big Tens in the same season for the first time since 2011.
Brett Riley (400 IM), Samuels (100 fly) and Sherman (200 free) gave Purdue three championship finalists in the swimming events Friday. All three have an opportunity to score in each of their three individual events of the meet Saturday. Riley and Sherman are out to accomplish the feat for the third year in a row. Riley was an A finalist for the first time Friday.
Coleman Modglin (100 breast) and Aćin (200 free) were victorious in C finals Friday. Aćin won a race in the finals session for the second day in a row, taking the B final of the 50 free Thursday. The Boilermakers scored 35 team points in the 200 free.
Michael Juengel scored in the C finals of the 100 fly and 100 back Friday. He broke 47 seconds in the prelims of the 100 fly, moving into seventh place in program history. Liam Walker registered a career-best mark of 47.40 in the C final of the 100 fly, improving on his 10th-fastest time in team history. Andrew Alders scored in the B final of the 100 breast while earning a second swim at Big Tens for the first time.
The Boilermakers will enter the final day of the championships only 8.5 points behind Wisconsin for fourth place in the team scoring. Saturday's schedule features swimming prelims at 10 a.m. ET, platform diving prelims at noon and the finals session at 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY TEAM SCORES
1.) #4 Indiana 972.5
2.) #9 Ohio State 940.5
3.) #13 Michigan 756.5
4.) #24 Wisconsin 564.5
5.) Purdue 556
6.) #25 Northwestern 511
7.) Penn State 427
8.) Minnesota 404
Brady Samuels anchored the 200 free relay team to the medal after opening the night by breaking the program record in the 100 butterfly (45.64) for the third time this season. He also reset the freshman benchmark for the fourth time.
All five Boilermakers scored on a springboard for the second day in a row, accounting for 95 team points Friday. Greg Duncan placed fourth in a championship final for the second day in a row, his sixth career top-four finish at Big Tens. Tyler Downs was the top qualifier in the prelims and finished sixth in the final to give Purdue three of the top six.
Samuels anchored the 200 free relay quartet to bronze with a team-best 50 split of 19 seconds flat. He joined forces with seniors Nick Sherman, Ryan Hrosik and Nikola Aćin for a time of 1:16.85, good for second in program history. The Boilermakers medaled in the event for the second year in a row and claimed a relay medal at Big Tens for the third consecutive season for the first time since 2001 to 2003. Aćin and Hrosik have been part of all three medal-winning relays.
WATCH PURDUE'S FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
• Rzepka, Duncan, Downs Finish 2-4-6 in 3-Meter Diving
• Aćin, Modglin Win C Finals in 200 Free, 100 Breast
• 3-Meter Diving Prelims
Rzepka medaled in his championship final debut at Big Tens. The freshman got off to a strong start but missed his third-round dive. Then he changed his dive in the following round to a back 3 ½, earning a score of 75.6 to reinsert himself into medal contention. But it was a big score of 95.55 on his forward 2 ½ three twister as the first diver of the final round that rocketed Rzepka up the leaderboard. He bested Indiana's Quinn Henninger for silver by 0.5 tenths of a point. Rzepka's list score of 451.90 moved him into sixth place in program history.
With Downs claiming bronze on 1-meter Thursday, the Boilermakers have had two different divers win springboard medals at Big Tens in the same season for the first time since 2011.
Brett Riley (400 IM), Samuels (100 fly) and Sherman (200 free) gave Purdue three championship finalists in the swimming events Friday. All three have an opportunity to score in each of their three individual events of the meet Saturday. Riley and Sherman are out to accomplish the feat for the third year in a row. Riley was an A finalist for the first time Friday.
Coleman Modglin (100 breast) and Aćin (200 free) were victorious in C finals Friday. Aćin won a race in the finals session for the second day in a row, taking the B final of the 50 free Thursday. The Boilermakers scored 35 team points in the 200 free.
Michael Juengel scored in the C finals of the 100 fly and 100 back Friday. He broke 47 seconds in the prelims of the 100 fly, moving into seventh place in program history. Liam Walker registered a career-best mark of 47.40 in the C final of the 100 fly, improving on his 10th-fastest time in team history. Andrew Alders scored in the B final of the 100 breast while earning a second swim at Big Tens for the first time.
The Boilermakers will enter the final day of the championships only 8.5 points behind Wisconsin for fourth place in the team scoring. Saturday's schedule features swimming prelims at 10 a.m. ET, platform diving prelims at noon and the finals session at 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY TEAM SCORES
1.) #4 Indiana 972.5
2.) #9 Ohio State 940.5
3.) #13 Michigan 756.5
4.) #24 Wisconsin 564.5
5.) Purdue 556
6.) #25 Northwestern 511
7.) Penn State 427
8.) Minnesota 404