Nov. 2, 1999
MISSOURI HEADS TO THE LAND OF LINCOLN
The next stop for Missouri swimming and diving will be the Illinois Dual Extravangza November 5-7 in Champaign, Ill. On the women's side, Mizzou will be going head-to-head with two Big Ten up-and-comers, Illinois and Penn State Friday night and Saturday morning before doing battle with arch-rival Kansas on Saturday night. Sunday will see MU competing against Southern Illinois and Bowling Green.
Head coach Brian Hoffer and the team are all looking forward to competing against some great teams in a fun and exciting format. There are very few times that a team gets to swim this many dual meets in a three day period.
"We can't wait to get in there and race," said Hoffer. "This is a great meet with a lot of opportunities for us to step up and race hard. It is a fun meet since every competition is a dual meet."
A LOOK BACK
The 1998 Illinois Dual Extravangza was a "coming out" party for Hoffer and his Missouri Tigers. All Hoffer had been hoping for since arriving at MU eight years ago was one big win. Well at last year's meet, he got several big wins as Mizzou's men and women both upset Indiana University to start the meet off. The women followed up that performance with another upset over host Illinois 82-66 while the men downed nationally ranked Cincinnati.
JAYHAWKS JOIN THE MIX
Kansas was not at the 1998 version of the Dual Extravangza, but the Tigers and Jayhawks had one of their most memorable meets during the 1998 campaign. No matter what sport it is, the week leading into the Kansas meet is always extra big, now add to the fact that the swimming and diving teams are already going to one of their biggest meets of the season.
Last season against KU, the Missouri women were so fortunate. The Tigers got off to an early lead, but were unable to hold it as KU came back to win the meet 170-130. Tawney Larm, Cristina Souza and Molly Vetter were the stars of last years meet. The trio will be able to provide the Tiger newcomers with leadership and experience at this years meet.
TIGERS SPLIT SEASON OPENER
The University of Missouri men's and women's swimming and diving team kicked off its season the way it expected to in Ames, Iowa last Friday night (Oct. 29). The two teams opened up the 1999-2000 campaign against conference opponent Iowa State splitting the decision between them. MU's women dominated ISU's women by a score of 152-86, while the nationally ranked Cyclone men proved to be too deep for the Tigers as they fell by a score of 86-148.
SWEEPSTAKES
For the women, the meet went as expected with just a few surprises along the way. Mizzou knew they could win the meet, but never anticipated winning 10 of the 13, while also sweeping the top places in all but three events.
Even senior captain Tawney Larm was impressed with the team and its attitude. "We expected to win, but not by so much. Everyone got up a raced which was great to see. We got to swim some off events and not everyone had to swim a full load which will help this weekend," Larm said.
YOUTH SHINES THROUGH
The Tiger women were led by multiple event winners and freshman Katy Chandler and Leslie Hoh. Chandler, swimming in her first collegiate dual meet, posted victories in the 200 and 500 freestyle events while Hoh kicked off her Tiger dual meet career with two individual wins in the 200 breaststroke and the 200 individual medley.
OTHER TIGER VICTORS
MU also claimed the three-meter diving event as sophomores Erin Wilke and Tori Denlinger brought home a 1-2 Tiger sweep. The Tiger winners included senior Rikki Janes in the 200 backstroke, junior Jeanna Willi hit the wall first in the 50 freestyle, sophomore Molly Vetter was victorious in the 1000 freestyle and freshman Ellen Cross earned her first Tiger dual meet victory in the 100 freestyle.