Tigers Show Competition the Door at Show Me Showdown

10/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving

Oct. 13, 2007

Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri Men's Swimming and Diving team earned 365 points on the day and their third consecutive Show Me Showdown title on Saturday. The Tiger women tallied 382.5 points and victories in 14 of 16 events en route to claiming a third straight Showdown win of their own.

"The men bounced back well today and we were able to use our depth and intensity to get the win," said Missouri Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "Gilad swam very well, as did Martin and Dylan. We can definitely use the momentum we gained today to help us in the coming weeks."

The men's efforts were aided by the performances of several Tigers in the diving well. Sophomore Greg DeStephen captured a win on the 3-meter (323.85) board with senior David Boyko recording a runner-up score of 268.55. Boyko also led Mizzou to victory in the 1-meter diving scramble competition with his first-place showing. Three Mizzou divers qualified for NCAA Zones as a result of their performances, including Boyko, sophomore Ryan Meeker and freshman Dante Jones.

After his win in the 200 free last night vs. Indiana, Dylan Lynn added a second win to his 2007-08 collection in the 100 fly in a time of 50.70. Lynn also swam to second-place honors in the 200 free (1:41.20) and 200 IM (1:54.22).

Lynn was edged in the 200 free by Tiger junior Gilad Kaufman, who won the race in a time of 1:41.12. Kaufman had a solid overall day in the pool, also finishing second in the 50 fly, 50 free and 100 fly.

Fellow sophomore Martin Cernansky showed why he is the team's top breaststroker in the 100 breast, which he swam in a time of 56.72. Cernansky went on to complete runner-up finishes in the 50 breast and 200 IM.

Another Tiger to earn a win Saturday was senior Travis Floyd in the 100 back. Floyd completed the race in a time of 50.76.

In addition to their six individual wins, the Tigers also claimed a win in the 400 free relay thanks to the efforts of redshirt freshman Cameron Sellers, Kaufman, junior captain Jake Hoffmann and Lynn. The quartet combined for the win in a time of 3:07.07.

On the women's side, senior Taye Patterson and sophomore Colleen Gordon accounted for six of their team's nine individual wins Saturday. Patterson got things started for the women as she touched in first in the 100 IM in a time of 59.68, just ahead of teammates Lori Halvorson (59.80) and Lauren Cox (59.81). The three Tigers finished the race within 13-hundredths of a second of one another. Patterson also claimed victories in the 50 (26.79) and 100 back (57.76).

Sophomore Colleen Gordon picked up where left off last night by earning a hat trick of her own. She began the day with a close win in the 100 fly in a time of 57.69. Senior Arica Jacinto earned runner-up honors in the event (57.82). Gordon then went on to pick up wins in the 50 fly (26.08) and 200 IM (2:07.75). The sophomore sensation now boasts five wins on the young season.

Another winner on the day was junior Kendra Melnychuk, who outdove her competition to earn the win on the 3-meter (270.80) board and went on to lead her Mizzou squad to gold in the 1-meter diving scramble competition. Melnychuk also qualified for NCAA Zones as a result of her performances today. Freshman Abby Zepeda got on the board for the Tigers as well with her third-place showing on the 3-meter board (228.60).

Fellow Canadian and Mizzou newcomer Lauren Lavigna followed up her two-win effort on Friday with another triumph in the 200 free, which she swam in a time of 1:53.42.

The Tigers also swept all four relay events Saturday in their home waters. Patterson doubled her three individual wins by leading her Tiger relay squads to victories in the 200 free (1:36.14), 200 medley (1:38.18) and 300 medley (2:49.55) relays.

"The women came out strong and showed the same intensity they put on display last night," said Hoffer. "I thought Taye Patterson and Colleen Gordon played a big part in our efforts today and helped lead the team to the win."