Missouri was just too much for Western Illinois to handle from start to finish. The Tigers claimed the first and last events of the meet, the 200 medley and 200 free relays. In fact, Mizzou won all but two events while sweeping the top 3 places in three events.
Head coach Brain Hoffer was pleased with his teams overall performance as well as that of juniors Aaron Lo and Mike Cervenka.
"Western matched up very well with us. It was a good meet for the guys. The only events they were a little better than us was the distance freestyle races, but if Dane had been at the top of his game, those would have been some great races. We took control of the meet early and never really let them get close. Aaron and Mike really stepped up big. Mike's 200 IM was exceptional. He is now eyeing the school record in the event at the end of the season."
Aaron Lo was again the Tigers standout, winning both the 50 and 100 freestyles. Lo has now won all but two races in which he has competed. For Mike Cervenka, it was his coming out party. He won the 200 IM for the Tigers and came close to winning the 500 freestyle as well. His times at this point in the season are the fastest of his Missouri swimming career. Freshman diver James Sweeney also claimed both the diving titles.
The Tiger will take Thanksgiving weekend off from competition before heading to the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. December 3-5 for the final meet of the fall semester.
Results *Winner and Missouri Only Missouri 143 Western Illinois 97
50 Freestyle 1. Aaron Lo 21.38 2. Brendan Smith 21.95 4. Brent Pitzer 22.16
100 Freestyle 1. Aaron Lo 46.89 3. Brendan Smith 48.84 4. Jon Baumgart 49.35
200 Freestyle 1. Radu Miclaus 1:46.53 2. Matt Ferrarelli 1:46.68 3. James Herrick 1:47.77
500 Freestyle 1. Brian Gargas (WIU) 4:42.11 2. Mike Cervenka 4:42.91 3. Randy Swift 4:50.75
1000 Freestyle 1. Brian Gargas (WIU) 9:41.81 2. Dane Pedersen 9:55.19 3. Randy Swift 9:58.38 6. Kyle Sanders 10:33.64
200 Backstroke 1. Matt Ferrarelli 1:55.01 2. Andy Cole 1:55.85 3. James Herrick 1:59.63
200 Butterfly 1. Radu Miclaus 1:54.74 2. Shane Whildin 1:58.76 4. Kyle Sanders 2:03.74
200 Breaststroke 1. Matt Dubois (WIU) 2:10.63 2. Dan Knudson 2:14.67 3. Charlie Davies 2:14.79 6. Adam Shapley 2:24.16
200 Individual Medley 1. Mike Cervenka 1:56.54 2. Andy Cole 1:59.78 3. Ryan Nevins 2:01.09
One-meter Diving 1. James Sweeney 231.00 3. Jason Otte 220.87
Three-meter Diving 1. James Sweeney 236.10 3. Jason Otte 209.63
200 Medley Relay 1. MU 1:36.43 (Cole, Davies, Whildin, Lo) 3. MU 1:39.26 (Ferrarelli, Knudson, Miclaus, Baumgart) 4. MU 1:40.58 (Herrick, Shapley, Nevins, Pitzer)
200 Freestyle Relay 1. MU 1:27.42 (Cervenka, Baumgart, Whildin, Smith) 3. MU 1:29.00 (Pitzer, Swift, Nevins, Davies)