1998-99 Men's Preview
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
September 13, 1998
Last season was to have been labeled a rebuilding year for the Missouri men's team. As it turned out, the term rebuilding was changed to reloading. A team consisting of 11 newcomers turned in a some what surprising 5-3 dual meet record as well as a victory at the 12-team Miami, Ohio Invite.
This year, eight of those newcomers are seasoned veterans. In addition, the Tigers lost just three contributors from last season. So the big question is, how much better will the 1998-99 be?
The answer is better, but what remains to be seen is will it show in their final record? Missouri will swim a very difficult schedule that includes Big 12 duals against nationally ranked Iowa State, Kansas and Nebraska. The non-conference opponents include Iowa, CIncinnati, Southern Illinois and Drury as well as the Indiana Invite where the teams are still to be determined.
Perhaps the real test will come at the Big 12 Championships in March. The Tigers scored 326 points at last year's meet and broke five school records. The Tigers will look to add significant numbers to that total in 1999 as well as more record-breaking swims.
Sprint Free
Sophomore Brendan Smith heads the MU sprint free swimmers. Smith learned a lot as a freshman as he consoled in the 50 free at the Big 12 Championships. He will look for a break through year in 1999. Senior Dave Kinsella will lead the Tigers in the 100 free. Last year was a transition year for Brenden Smith Kinsella, who was a junior-college All-American.
Freshman Shane Whilden will add depth to the sprint free races and Hoffer can call upon senior Mike Miller and sophomore Aaron Lo as well. Lo tasted success in the 50 free in dual competition last year.
Mid Free
The Tigers should improve in the middle distance events this year. Sophomore Mike Cervenka will be called upon to lead Missouri in the 200 and 500 free events. Cervenka showed signs of brilliance last year and will look to break through this year. Senior Neal Herman gives the Tigers a veteran swimmer in both the 200 and 500. Herman is coming off of a very good summer of training. Kinsella will also be a key in the 200 free, an event that he really came on strong in during the second half of the season.
Distance Free
Three Tigers will be looked upon to bolster the Tigers' distance events this season. Senior Craig Koenig is the MU all-time record holder in the 1650 free (15:45.84) and owns the third best 1000 free time (9:32.83). Koenig finished in the top 10 in the 1650 free at the Big 12 Championships and is extra motivated to break into the finals in 1999.
Sophomore Randy Swift had a good summer of training and will focus more on the distance events rather than the individual medley. Swift battled mono-nucleosis during his freshman year and spent most of last season getting back into good physical condition. He should be all of the way back in 1999 and will help contribute particularly in the 500 and 1000 free events.
Sophomore John Beissel will also add depth to the distance free events. Beissel tasted some success last season and comes into the new season with a lot of confidence.
Backstroke
Senior Chris Peters is the man for the Tigers in the backstroke events. Peters owns the school record in the 200 back (1:49.83) and will take aim at the 100 back record this season. He placed 6th in the 100 back and 7th in the 200 back at the 1998 Big 12 Championships.
Freshman Andy Cole will help push Peters, especially in the 200 back where Cole's high school times are nearly as fast as Peters. Sophomore James Herrick has a year's worth of experience and could help contribute in dual meets as will senior Brad Morrison.
Breaststroke
Without question, the Tigers own one of the top breaststroke teams in the Big 12 Conference. Sophomore Mike Tucker placed second in the 200 breast at the 1998 Big 12 Championships and became the Tigers' first representative at the NCAA Championships since Roger Alvarenga and Lance Bohlman in 1995. Tucker owns MU records in both the 100 breast (55.52) and the 200 breast (1:59.55).
And then there is senior Ryan Ruddy, the former school record holder in both breaststroke events. The addition of Tucker may have pushed Ruddy even more as he quietly put together his best season of his career. Ruddy finished in the top 10 in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events at the Big 12 Championships last season in career-best times. He just missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
Sophomore's Aaron Lo and Charlie Davies should both add depth in the 100 breast events.
Butterfly
Senior Mike Miller had a great season last year and after a very good showing at the Senior Nationals this summer, Miller enters this season with a lot of confidence. Miller owns the school record in the 100 fly (48.53) and will take aim at the 200 fly record this year. More importantly, Miller was close to qualifying Mike Miller for the NCAA Championships last season. He has a very realistic chance in 1999.
Freshman Shane Whilden was the Illinois state champion in the 100 fly last year and is the first freshman to enter MU with a time under 50.50. Brenden Smith consoled in the 100 fly at the Big 12 Championships last year and will only get better. His time of 49.61 is currently fourth all-time at MU. He is capable of turning in performaces around 48.00 seconds.
Senior Jayson Bradberry and sophomore John Beissel will also add depth to the MU butterfly events.
Individual Medley
There is no real stand out in the individual medley, but Hoffer has plenty of options, at least six to be exact. Ryan Ruddy could be the lead guy after turning in some impressive times the last couple of years in what would be considered his second event. John Beissel and Randy Swift saw considerable action in the IM events last season. Swift came to MU as one of the highest regarded IM swimmers in the country and has had considerable amount of success in dual competition. Cole, Koenig and Tucker are also options for Hoffer, especially Tucker who is capable of popping a great time if called upon.
Diving
Diving is a concern for the Tigers, but as long as there is consistency, MU will survive. Junior Brad Duggan is capable of being one of the top divers in the conference. He just missed the Big 12 finals as a freshman. Last year, inconsisteny was Duggan's downfall, but he did perform well in several dual meets.
Ryan Day walked on to the MU squad last year and was a pleasant surprise. Day scored points for the Tigers in several dual meets and continues to make great strides.
