University of Missouri
Iowa
Missouri Drops Final Meet to Iowa Hawkeyes
1/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 30, 2004
Columbia, Mo. - From the very beginning of the Missouri vs. Iowa men's swimming and diving meet, you knew it was going to be fast competition. The meet itself finished in less than two hours, but in that two hour time span, three University Natatorium records were broken.
Iowa, now 8-3, started the meet off by not only winning the 400 medley relay, but also by setting a new pool record with their time of 3:23.29.
In the men's 1,000-yard freestyle, Missouri was able to take the lead of the meet as freshman Peter Willett finished in fist place with the time of 9:43.48 and senior Eric Sullins adding a third place finish for the Tigers.
In one of the closest races of the night, sophomore Ryan Searby was able to hold off a charging Iowa swimmer and take first place in the 200-yard freestyle. Freshman Jason Lyons and sophomore Wade Pennington added third and fourth place finishes for the Tigers.
Earlier this season, junior Matt North was able to break the MU pool record in the 200-yard breaststroke. Throughout the entire season, North's times in the 100 breaststroke have been sub-pool record times, but none of the times he swam were in the MU pool. Tonight North got his chance at the record and he broke it with his time of 56.92. North also re-broke the pool record in the 200-yard breaststroke that he had set on October 31, 2003.
Missouri senior Tyler Belanger finished his last home meet in style as he placed first in the 50-yard freestyle and added another first place finish in the 100-yard freestyle.
The Missouri diving squad proved once again to be a strong-point on this year's men's team. On the 1-meter board competition, sophomore Evan Watters finished in first place and fellow sophomore Aaron Wionzek finished third. On the 3-meter board, Watters and Wionzek switched places as Wionzek finished in first place and Watters finished third.
After the conclusion of the first diving intermission, Missouri had the lead over Iowa, but was unable to hold on as the meet progressed. In the end, Missouri was unable to regain the lead and fell to the Hawkeyes 166-129.
Players Mentioned
