Feb. 8, 2008
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The 20th-ranked University of Missouri men's swimming and diving team (11-2, 1-0 Big 12) closed out their dual season with a 155-143 win over three-time defending NCAA Division II national champion Drury on Friday. The Tigers' win gives them 11 on the season, the most any team has compiled under Head Coach Brian Hoffer during his 16-year tenure at Mizzou.
"This was a great experience for us," Hoffer said. "Drury challenged us all meet long and the guys responded well and with a lot of intensity. The divers and several of the swimmers really stepped up and helped us take care of business today."
Helping the Tigers to a win on Friday were freshman Dante Jones and sophomore Greg DeStephen in 1- and 3-meter diving. Jones took top honors on the 1-meter board with a score of 335.18, with DeStephen tallying 321.15 to take second. Sophomore Ryan Meeker rounded out the top-three with his score of 302.03.
Jones and DeStephen reversed their fortunes in the 3-meter diving competition, with DeStephen capturing the win with a score of 355.35 and Jones taking second (343.73).
Racing to his first win as a Tiger on Friday was sophomore Joe Wiedemeier in the 50 free. The Iowan clocked a 21.61 to edge freshman Jordan Hawley, who finished just behind in a time of 21.79.
Junior Ted Harris followed suit in the 100 breast. The Greenville, Ill., native earned the win in the 100 breast in a time of 58.28. Senior Brandon Lee clocked a 59.65 to take second.
Redshirt freshman Cameron Sellers' trip to Springfield was a successful one as well. The Kansan paced the field in the 200 free in a time of 1:40.96 and touched in at 46.84 to finish second in the 100 portion of the event. Junior Matt Dahlke took second in the 200 free in a time of 1:41.29.
Closing out the evening, and the team's regular season, was the 200 free relay squad of Hawley, Wiedemeier, Sellers and junior Gilad Kaufman. The quartet combined for a time of 1:24.42 to clinch the win.
With the dual season now at an end the Tigers turn their attention to the Big 12 Championships, set to take place Feb. 27-March 1 in Austin, Texas.