Missouri
Iowa / Illinois
Tigers Leave Iowa Unbeaten After Collecting Three Wins On Saturday
1/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 21, 2006
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Missouri swimming and diving program remained undefeated in the new year, as the men (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) beat Iowa, 177-108, and the women (4-2-1, 1-2-1) claimed victories over Iowa, 178-117, and Illinois, 166-129, on Saturday afternoon.
"The men were pretty dominating today," Mizzou head coach Brian Hoffer said. "Iowa won a few events, but we really stepped up and had some good races."
"The women also had a really good meet. We had a little bit of a rough start, but we were able to come back from it. We swam some really fast times today, even in the events we weren't winning. That's something you really like to see as a coach."
The men's squad got wins from freshman Brad Hubbard in the 200 free (1:43.35), sophomore Travis Floyd in the 100 back (51.12), senior Chris Lukas in the 50 free (21.72) and 200 back (1:50.19), sophomore Bennett Clark in the 100 free (46.41), sophomore Brandon Lee in the 500 free (4:38.10) and freshman Gilad Kaufman in the 100 fly (51.42). Senior diver Evan Watters was also victorious on both the 1 and 3-meter boards.
Lee also turned in a runner-up finish in the 1000 free (9:36.07), as did Clark in the 200 free (1:44.32).
"Brandon Lee really had a big day for us," Hoffer said. "His time in the 1000 is one of his best ever and he's unrested. Then he came back and won the 500 for us, which was a great swim. Brad (Hubbard) and Bennett (Clark) also stepped up in the 200, even though they didn't hear the start because of noise in the diving area. It was almost really bad, but it turned out well."
The women also relied on their stock of young talent to earn two victories today. Individual wins came from freshman Jill Granger in the 500 (4:56.86) and 1000 free (10:06.83), sophomore Jill Bastien in the 100 breast (1:05.56) and freshman Lori Halvorson in the 200 back (2:02.95). Senior co-captain Liz Schoborg also joined in the winning ways, claiming first in the 200 fly (2:05.56).
Junior diver Kim Massaro placed first on the 1-meter board for the first time this season, while freshman Kendra Melnychuk earned the win on the 3-meter board.
"Kim (Massaro) got a really nice win on the 1-meter board today, so I'm really happy for her," Hoffer said. "Jill Bastien's win in the 100 breast was much needed. We also had good swims from people like (freshman) Erin Yeager, (freshman) Coralie Baumann and (junior) Shannon Hogan."
The two women's wins on the day give Hoffer 101 such victories in his career.
"A lot of women have worked hard for me over the years, and I appreciate it," Hoffer said. "This couldn't have happened without their effort. I coached them all over the years, but they went out and got the wins."
The Tiger men will be in the water again next weekend, when they travel to Notre Dame, Ind., to take part in the Shamrock Invite being hosted by the Fighting Irish. The women's squad is off until Feb.3, when both squads will square off with Drury in Springfield, Mo.
