Upset City in Champaign
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
November 6, 1998
COLUMBIA, Mo.- Missouri swimming and diving coach Brian Hoffer finally won the big one. All Hoffer has been hoping for the last couple of seasons is one big upset. It happened twice on Friday night. Both the men's and women's squads of Missouri pulled off big upset victories over the University of Indiana on Friday night in Champaign, Ill. at the Illinois Dual Meet Extravaganza. The women defeated the 26th -ranked Hoosiers by a score of 96-89. The biggest upset was on the men's side as the Tigers downed the 23rd-ranked Hoosiers 106-78.
The MU women began the meet with a win in the 200 freestyle-relay. Then, the much talked about Tiger freshmen took over. Molly Vetter, who broke an MU Natatorium record in the 200 freestyle last week against Iowa State, made it two-for-two Friday night as she won the 200 in a time of 1 minute, 52.96 seconds, the second fastest time in school history. Fellow frosh Katie Fields placed second in the event in a time of 1 minute, 53.14 seconds, the third fastest MU time in school history.
The 200 individual medley was a huge race for the Tigers. Junior school-record holder Tawney Larm and sophomore Kara Bramer took first and second in the event to give the Tigers a big lead. Indiana closed the gap on the Tigers in the next event, but Rikki Janes recorded a big win in the 100 backstroke in an impressive time of 58.76 seconds to extend the MU lead. The Tigers took second and third places in the final four events to hold off the Hoosiers.
"We swam the way we had to," Hoffer said. "The 200 I.M. and 200 free was really big for us. We really took advantage of Indiana in those two events."
The MU women will face nationally-ranked Illinois on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. and will meet a very good Cincinnati squad on Saturday night at 6:15 p.m.
And then there was the MU men, who have been somewhat overshadowed so far this season by the very talented women's team. Hoffer's guys flexed their muscles on Friday night and upset the 23rd-ranked Hoosiers. Tiger veterans Aaron Lo, Mike Miller, Chris Peters and Ryan Ruddy got things rolling with a win in the 200 freestyle-relay. The Hoosiers built up a solid lead until the Tigers came back in the 50 freestyle. For the second week straight, it was the sophomore, Lo, coming up with a big win in a time of 21.20 seconds. As important was the Tigers third and fourth place finishes by Brendan Smith and Dave Kinsella.
The Tigers went second and third in the next two events to keep adding to their point total. It was not until the final two individual events that the Tigers made their breakthrough. In the 100 butterfly, seniors Mike Miller and Jayson Bradberry finished first and second with freshman Shane Whildin completing the 1-2-3 sweep for the Tigers. That race may have stunned the Hoosiers. The next event broke their backs. In the 100 freestyle, an event that is not exactly supposed to be a strength for the Tigers, junior Dave Kinsella took home the first place finish with sophomores Mike Cervenka and Brendan Smith finishing right behind for a second straight 1-2-3 sweep.
"The breaking point was the 100 butterfly when we went 1-2-3," said Hoffer. "Indiana totally shutdown after that."
The MU men will have very little time to celebrate. The Tigers will face Iowa at 11:00 a.m. followed by nationally-ranked Cincinnati at 6:15 p.m.
