Sept. 19, 2003
Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri swimming and diving teams kicked off their 2003-2004 schedule with their annual Black and Gold meet Friday night at the University Natatorium. The Black team was able to make a late charge and tie the meet in the last event of the evening.
Junior phenom Matt North was able to set a new meet record in the 100 breaststroke with his time of 57.14. The record had been standing since 1998 when former Tiger Aaron Lo set it with a time of 58.43. North was also able to add a first place finish in the 200 IM and the 400 freestyle relay.
In the diving well, the Gold team was stopped just shy of sweeping the events. Diving for the Gold team, sophomores Nicole Frazier and Evan Watters finished in first on the 1-meter board. On the 3-meter board, junior Anna Massey finished in first for the Black team as Evan Watters added another first place finish for the Gold team.
The final score of the meet ended up coming down to the last event, the men's 400 freestyle relay. Heading into the relay, the Gold team had a comfortable lead with the score at 208-199. The only way for the Black team to win was for both teams to score with one of the teams finishing in first place. Led by senior captain Tyler Belanger, the relay team for the Black squad consisting of Belanger, Dan Buhr, Matt North, and Ryan Searby clenched first place and waited anxiously to see if the second squad for the Black team could finish in the top-three. In the homestretch senior Stephen Darmitzel was able to pass his younger brother David Darmitzel and take third for the Black squad and tie the score at 212.
The Tigers start their regular season on October 11th as the women's team will travel to Fayetteville, Ark. to face Arkansas and defending national champions, Auburn. The next home meet for the Tigers is October 31st against Truman State at 5:00 PM.