Swimmers and Divers Off To Conference Championships
2/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 28, 2000
Tigers Aim High in Texas
With each passing conference championship, the University of Missouri men's swimming and diving team has been making progress. Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference, MU has finished 6th each of the last three years, but there point total has continually risen with each passing year. The Tigers' 1999 total of 313 was down 13 points from 1998, but it marked the second consecutive season Mizzou surpassed the 300 point total.
Point totals and team finishes from previous Big 12 Championships
1997 1998 19991. UT 920.5 1. UT 886 1. UT 882.5 2. NU 735.5 2. NU 638.5 2. NU 634 3. AM 493 3. AM 579 3. AM 625.5 4. KU 471 4. ISU 470.5 4. ISU 512 5. ISU 420 5. KU 439 5. KU 452 6. MU 237 6. MU 326 6. MU 313
Here is the break down of points for each day for Missouri.
`97 -- 72, 170 (98), 237 (67) `98 -- 76, 217 (141), 326 (109) `99 -- 83, 227 (144), 313 (86)
A Look Back to 1999
Missouri turned in several strong performances in its sixth-place finish at the 1999 Big 12 Conference Championships in Austin, Texas. The Tigers tallied 313 points, while Texas claimed its third title in as many years with 882.5 points. Eight MU men are returning who finaled at the 1999 conference championships including several members of Mizzou's five relay teams
Missouri's Top-16 Performers from '99 (Returning Tigers Bold)
200 IM - 8th Ryan Ruddy 1-meter Diving - 8th Ryan Day 10th Brad Duggan 400 IM - 12th Randy Swift 13th Brad Morrison 14th Andy Cole 15th Craig Koenig 100 Fly - 14th Mike Miller 100 Breast - 5th Mike Tucker 8th Ryan Ruddy 10th Aaron Lo 100 Back - 5th Chris Peters 15th Andy Cole 3-meter Diving - 7th Brad Duggan 8th Ryan Day 1,650 Free - 12th Craig Koenig 16th Randy Swift 200 Back - 4th Chris Peters 12th Andy Cole 16th James Herrick 200 Breast - 12th Ryan Ruddy 200 Fly - 11th Mike Miller 13th Brad Morrison 14th Shane Whildin Platform Diving - 4th Ryan Day
Lo and Behold
Aaron Lo and Nebraska's Adam Pine were selected as the male swimmers of the month for November. Lo, a junior from Whitby, Ontario, Canada, won every individual event in which he competed against Kansas and Southern Illinois at the Illinois Dual Extravaganza. He claimed victories in the 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke and the 100 individual medley. Lo also swam as a member of the Tigers' winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. Against Western Illinois, he captured the 50 and 100 freestyle events while also anchoring the winning 200 medley relay. It was the first time the junior has earned Big 12 Swimmer-of-the-Month honors in his three year career. He has led the team for the past two seasons as well as this year and will hopefully be able to carry on his successful Tiger career at the league meet.
Academic Excellence
Two Tigers were named to the Academic All-Big 12 team in 2000. Sophomore Andy Cole was a first team honoree while former MU swimmer Dave Kinsella was honored with a second-team performer. For Cole, he earned first team honors the first year he was eligible for the academic honor.
A Look at the Coaches
In his 8th season leading the Missouri men's swimming and diving team, head coach Brian Hoffer has been able to turn a program around that was almost non-existent to a program that is now turning a few heads. He has coached MU to a 40-43 overall record, 17-9 over the last three seasons. During the 1999-00 season, Hoffer guided MU to its best record in school history, 6-2. The men have broken a total of 35 records prior to this season and will be looking to break a few more at the 2000 Big 12 Championships. He was named the 1993 men's Big Eight Coach-of-the-Year following his team's turn around.
Diving coach Pat McCord is currently in his 6th season at Missouri. A 1988 English Olympic team alternate, McCord was named the 1999 co-Big 12 Diving Coach-of-the-Year. At the 1999 league championships, he led Ryan Day to three top-8 finishes, the first time in MU history a diver has finaled in all three diving events.
Assistant Coach Will Cobb is in his second season as a coach at MU after spending time as the assistant coach at the University of Georgia. Cobb is Hoffer's right-hand man who not only coaches the swimmers, he also serves as the recruiting coordinator for the Tigers. He is a four-year letterwinner at Northern Arizona (1990-94) where he served as team captain during his senior campaign.
Also on staff is graduate assistant Jessica Grass, who is currently in her second year with the Tigers. She came to Missouri after serving as an assistant coach with the Twin Cities Swim Team in Minneapolis, Minn. As well as a volunteer assistant for her alma mater, the University of Minnesota. Grass has great swimming resume from Minnesota where she was an honorable mention All-American as well as an 11-time Big 12 finalist.
A Stroll Through 1999-2000
The Tigers enter the Big 12 Championships with a 6-2 record, which includes a five-meet winning streak. MU, however, is 1-2 in league competition. The stage was set early for how much of the season would play out as two freshman, two sophomores and two juniors would lead MU through the 1999-2000 campaign providing the majority of the highlights for the Tigers.
Iowa State, 0ct. 29
Things went pretty much as expected in Ames, Iowa as the No. 25 Iowa State Cyclones proved to be too much as Missouri fell by a score of 148-86. Junior Mike Cervenka claimed the 200 breast title to close out the individual swims of the meet on an up-swing. Freshman Radu Miclaus was the winner of the 200 fly while fellow freshman Matt Ferrarelli pulled off the biggest upset of the meet winning the 200 IM.
Kansas, SIU at Illinois Dual Extravangza, Nov. 5-6
On November 5th and 6th, Mizzou upset nationally ranked Kansas University, 247-218, in a three session meet held in Champaign, Ill. at the Illinois Dual Extravangza. Not only did the Tigers defeat KU, they also swam past SIU, 249-209. MU started the meet off with a bang, as sophomore Shane Whildin and Miclaus claimed the top two spots in the 50 fly before going on to win four of the eight events on the first night. During the next two sessions, the Black and Gold swimmers and divers won four of the final 17 events, including a 1-2 finish in the 200 fly by Miclaus and Whildin. Junior Aaron Lo was undefeated during the three sessions winning the 50 free, 50 breast, 100 breast and 100 IM.
Western Illinois, Nov. 19
MU followed up its win in Champaign with another win in the Land of Lincoln as Mizzou defeated Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill., 143-97. Missouri was just too much for WIU to handle from start to finish as the Tigers claimed the first and last relays and all but two events in between. Lo was again the Tigers standout, winning both the 50 and 100 free. Cervenka had his coming out party for the season swimming his fastest time of the season to date en-route to claiming the 200 IM and 500 Free. Freshman diver James Sweeney also claimed both diving titles.
Indiana Invitational, Dec. 3-5
Missouri enjoyed several good swims in Bloomington, Ind. Cervenka won the 400 free while Ferrarelli established new school records with his winning times in both the 200 IM and 400 IM. Lo won the 50 free in a Canadian Olympic Trials qualifying standard as well as turning in Canadian Olympic Trial qualifying standards in the 100 breast and 100 free. Miclaus was a double winner in the 100 and 200 fly over the weekend, both in personal best times.
SMS, Jan. 15
In there first meet following the holiday break, MU had not missed a step as they defeated in-state rival Southwest Missouri State, 161-121. There were multiple double winners on the day as MU claimed ten of the 13 individual events including four 1-2 finishes and a 1-2-3 sweep in the 200 IM, their first sweep of the season. The Tigers two freshman sensations, Ferrarelli and Miclaus again led the way along with Lo. Ferrarelli and Lo both claimed three events while Miclaus won two including the 200 fly in a personal best time. Lo started the meet off with a win in the 100 breast, but the turning point of the meet came when Lo swam to a win in the 50 free. Freshman Dane Pedersen won the 1,000 free marking his first collegiate win.
Rolla, Jan. 22
MU began its three-week homestand hosting the University of Missouri-Rolla. MU defeated Rolla with a score of 122-75 at the University Natatorium. The usual suspects led the charge for Mizzou as the Tigers claimed their second straight win over a Missouri school. In the end, the Black and Gold swimmers won nine of the eleven events and established three new pool records. The Tigers started the meet off with a 1-2 finish in the 400 medley relay. As Miclaus, Lo, Whildin and Cervenka teamed up for the win as well as a new pool record. The multiple winners for the Tigers were Lo and Ferrarelli while Miclaus won his fourth 200 fly of the season.
Nebraska, Jan. 29
In their third conference meet of the season, the Missouri squad played host to nationally ranked University of Nebraska at the MU Natatorium this afternoon (Sat., Jan. 29). The men were not as fortunate as the women as they fell to No. 17 NU 142-99. MU's men held their own against Nebraska, but the Huskers were just too much for Missouri to handle. In the end, the Black and Gold men claimed two wins while finishing runner- up in four events. Lo was one of Mizzou's two winners on the day as he was victorious in the 50 free for the third consecutive weekend. Miclaus was the other Tiger to win an event winning the 100 fly in a season best time of 49.84. It marked the third victory in the event for the freshman.
Evansville, Feb. 5
It was a day filled with a lot emotion at the MU Natatorium as the Black and Gold swimmers and divers downed the University of Evansville, 177-90 on senior day. After an emotional thank you to the two seniors the dual got underway with Mizzou claiming 13 of the 15 events. There were a total of 7, 1-2 finishes and 3, 1-2-3 sweeps on the day. Lo started the day off breaking the block in lane 1 during the warm-up events and continued to show his muscle as he won both the 50 free and 100 breast. Whildin was also a double winner claiming both the 50 and 100 fly. However, the star of the day for the men was Ferreralli. The freshman won the 500 free, 100 back and 200 IM. His time in the 200 IM set a new pool record, the only one set on the day. James Sweeney made a clean sweep of the diving events for the men winning both the one-meter and three-meter.
Tigers Roster
Name YR Event Quick FactJon Baumgart JR Sp Free Currently has Tigers 3rd fastest 50 free time Mike Cervenka JR FR/BR 200 (5) & 500 (4) Free times on MU All-Time top 5 Andy Cole SO BK/IM On MU's All-Time top 5 in 100 (5) & 200 (3) Back Charlie Davies JR Breast MU's 3rd fastest times in 100 & 200 BR in 99-00 Matt Ferrarelli FR BK/IM 2nd on All-Time top 5 in 200 Bk, 200 & 400 IM James Herrick JR BK/FR Versatile swimmer who has scored in BK, FR & IM's Dan Knudson FR BR Posted MU's 2nd fastest 100 & 200 BR times in 99-00 Aaron Lo JR FR/BR November Big 12 Swimmer-of-the-Month Radu Miclaus FR Fly/BK Swam to 8 victories during 1999-2000 season Ryan Nevins SR BK/Fly Team captain who adds depth in back and fly events Jason Otte FR Diving Scored valuable points in dual meets for Tigers Dane Pedersen FR Dist. Missouri's top performer in distance freestyle Brent Pitzer JR Sp Free Helps Missouri in the sprint free relays Kyle Sanders FR Fly/FR 200 fly specialist who adds depth to Tiger line-up Adam Shapley SO BR/IM Transfer who has made steady improvement in 2000 Brendan Smith JR Fly/FR Has 4th fastest time in MU history in 100 fly James Sweeney FR Diving Tigers top scorer in 1-meter and 3-meter events Randy Swift SR FR/IM MU's No. 2 performer in 400 IM & 1650 free Shane Whildin SO Fly/FR One of Tigers' top athletes in fly and sprint free
Head Coach: Brian Hoffer (8th season) Diving Coach: Pat McCord (6th season) Assistant Coach: Will Cobb (2nd season) Graduate Assistant Coach: Jessica Grass (2nd season)
