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2005 Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships Preview Release
Feb. 22, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
The 2005 edition of the Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships takes to the water February 24-26 on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are hosting the event for the sixth time at University Aquatic Center and look to win their fourth League title in five years. Seven Big Ten squads finished the regular season ranked in the top 25 of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) dual meet rankings. Michigan is the top-ranked team entering the Championships at No. 5, followed by No. 6 Minnesota, No. 13 Indiana, No. 14 Northwestern, No. 15 Purdue, No. 18 Wisconsin and No. 24 Ohio State. Several event champions from last year's meet will be back in the pool for their respective teams, including Matt Grevers of Northwestern and Michigan's Peter Vanderkaay, last year's Co-Swimmers of the Year. Grevers had a record-setting 2004 Championships as he set new meet records in the prelims of the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events and went on to claim wins in the finals of those events. The Lake Forest, Ill., native also set a new Championships record in the 100-yard backstroke when he touched the wall first in 46.68. Vanderkaay took home event titles in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyles and the 400-yard individual medley. A two-time Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honoree this season, Vanderkaay is also the Big Ten Championships record-holder in the 500-yard freestlye with a time of 4:15.06. Ohio State's Mitch Richeson will be back to defend his 3-meter diving crown but will face some tough challenges particularly from Indiana's Marc Carlton. Carlton claimed Big Ten Diver of the Week laurels on five occasions and has won 19 of his 25 events this season. Additionally, the Webster, N.Y., native posted personal bests off the 3-meter springboard in invitational competition and the platform in dual meet action. Also looking to get in the mix will be Michigan State's Justin Laskowski as the senior sits atop all of MSU's diving categories this year. College Sports Television (CSTV), the first 24-hour college sports network, will broadcast the 2005 Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships on a tape-delay basis on Tuesday, March 1 at 9:30 p.m. EST. Overall, the Conference championships package will air on three separate occasions. CSTV is available nationally on DirecTV 610 and through multiple cable systems with the top six national distributors: Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner, Charter, Cox and Adelphia.
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