University of Michigan Wolverines Top Competition in Michigan State Outdoor Invitational

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Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

University of Michigan’s seniors Anders Nielsen and Marni Oldershaw helped lead the Wolverines to wins over Big Ten competition Purdue and Michigan State.

Men’s Press Release:

The University of Michigan men’s swimming and diving team opened the 2015-16 season with a pair of victories against Big Ten foes Purdue (144-91) and Michigan State (148-87) in an outdoor, long course meet at MSU’s IM West Outdoor Pool on Friday (Oct. 2).

Even with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and winds causing a slight current in the pool, Michigan was dominant, winning 11 of 13 events, getting individual wins from six different swimmers. The Wolverines also set eight pool records.

Senior Anders Nielsen and sophomore PJ Ransford, both of whom were NCAA runner-ups last season, didn’t show signs of any rust to help Michigan completely sweep the freestyles. The Wolverines went 1-2-3-4 in the 100-, 200 and 400-meter freestyles, including wins by Nielsen in the 100-meter freestyle (52.87) and 200-meter freestyle (1:54.66). Ransford won the 800-meter freestyle (8:26.75) and took second in the 400-meter freestyle (4:10.00).

Sophomore Ian Rainey had a breakout season debut, winning the 200-meter butterfly (2:07.98) ahead of teammate and 2014 NCAA champion Dylan Bosch (2:08.33). He also won the 400-meter freestyle (4:05.43) by nearly four-and-a-half seconds. Another sophomore, Tristan Sanders, clipped the one-minute mark in the 100-meter backstroke (59.33) and won by more than five seconds in the 200 back (2:07.72).

Other individual event winners included junior Vinny Tafuto in the 100-meter butterfly (57.69) and sophomore Evan White in the 200-meter IM (2:10.00).

The only events Michigan didn’t win were in the breaststroke. White was second in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:06.86) and junior Chris Klein was second in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:27.26).

The Wolverines also won both relays on the afternoon, going 3:56.92 in the 400-meter medley relay (Sanders, Klein, Bosch, Paul Powers) and 3:33.19 in the 400-meter freestyle relay (Tafuto, Nielsen, Jack Mangan, Powers).

Up next for Michigan is its annual alumni/intrasquad meet, held next Saturday (Oct. 10) at Canham Natatorium prior to football’s Homecoming game vs. Northwestern. The meet will begin at 10:30 a.m. Admission is free.

Coinciding with the Weekend of Champions, various members of the 1994-95 men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are expected to be in attendance. That year, the men won the national championship, while the women finished national runner-up.

Women’s Press Release:

The University of Michigan women’s swimming and diving team opened the 2015-16 season with a pair of victories against Big Ten foes Purdue (138.5-97.5) and Michigan State (156-80) in an outdoor, long course meet at MSU’s IM West Outdoor Pool on Friday (Oct. 2).

Even with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and winds causing a slight current in the pool, Michigan was dominant, winning 11 of 13 events, getting individual wins from five different swimmers. Additionally, the Wolverines set 10 pool records.

A trio of sophomores — each of whom set at least one school record last season — won two events a-piece, including Gillian Ryan in the 400-meter freestyle (4:26.66) and 800-meter freestyle (9:01.80), Emily Kopas in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:13.66) and the 200-meter breaststroke (2:40.22) and Clara Smiddy in the 100-meter backstroke (1:04.77) and 200-meter backstroke (2:17.05). The 200-meter backstroke was strong, in particular, as U-M went 1-2-3, with Smiddy touching the wall more than five seconds ahead of teammate Gabby DeLoof, who was second.

A pair of senior captains also had strong swims. Marni Oldershaw collected wins in the 200-meter butterfly (2:22.77) and 200-meter IM (2:23.01), while Ali DeLoof was second in the 100-meter freestyle (58.94) and 100-meter backstroke (1:05.99). Newcomer Siobhán Haughey was impressive in her collegiate debut, winning the 100-meter freestyle (57.92) ahead of A. DeLoof.

Freshman Becca Postoll was the team’s highest finisher in the 200-meter freestyle, taking second (2:07.67), while senior Zoe Mattingly also had a runner-up finish in the 100-meter butterfly (1:05.67).

The Wolverines also won both relays to bookend the meet, going 4:19.94 in the 400-meter medley relay (Smiddy, Kopas, Mattingly, A. DeLoof) and 3:57.49 in the 400-meter freestyle relay (Catie DeLoof, Postoll, Smiddy, Haughey).

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