Swimming & Diving

Dec. 1, 2011

Coach Matt Gianiodis Podcast

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State swimming and diving team will race at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, with preliminary and trial races beginning each Friday-Sunday morning and finals to follow later that evening. Diving events will take place on Friday with the one-meter and Saturday with the three-meter contests.

Scouting the Competition
The Spartans will face their toughest competition yet this season, with Big Ten powerhouses Penn State, Purdue and Ohio State in the lineup. Notre Dame will also be competing on the women's side.

Among the men's opponents, Penn State is 2-3 on the season, Purdue comes in with 3-2 record and the Buckeyes hold a flawless 7-0 dual meet record and are ranked 11th by the CSCAA.

In the women's field, Ohio State enters the invite with a 5-0 dual record, the Notre Dame women are 3-3, Purdue is 4-0 and Penn State holds a 2-3 record thus far. Live stats for the competition can be found here and will be continuously updated throughout the Invite.

Schedule of Events
Friday, December 2 (Prelims/Trials: 11 a.m.): 500 Freestyle; 200 Individual Medley; 50 Freestyle; One-Meter Diving; (Friday Finals: 6 p.m.): 200 Freestyle Relay; 500 Freestyle; 200 Individual Medley; 50 Freestyle; One-Meter Diving; 400 Medley Relay

Saturday, December 3 (Prelims/Trials: 10 a.m.): 400 Individual Medley; 100 Butterfly; 200 Freestyle; 100 Breaststroke; 100 Backstroke; Three-Meter Diving; (Saturday Finals: 5 p.m.): 200 Medley Relay; 400 Individual Medley; 100 Butterfly; 200 Freestyle; 100 Breaststroke; 100 Backstroke; Three-Meter Diving; 800 Freestyle Relay

Sunday, December 4 (Prelims/Trials: 9 a.m.): 200 Backstroke; 100 Freestyle; 200 Breaststroke; 200 Butterfly; Platform Diving; 1,650 Freestyle Timed Finals; (Finals: 3 p.m.): 1,650 Freestyle; 200 Backstroke; 100 Freestyle; 200 Breaststroke; 200 Butterfly; 400 Freestyle Relay

Last Time Out
The Green and White are coming off an impressive sweep over St. Bonaventure on Nov. 18 as the women topped the Bonnies with a 174-117 score and the men earned a 178-120 victory. The women notched first-place finishes in 10 total events, while the men earned top marks in nine of their contests.

Three Spartans recorded season-best times at the dual in the 100 breast stroke, as Bahadir Senel and Jason Lintjer earned times of 58.14 and 58.53 respectively, while Cameron Bartlett notched a top time of 59.54.

Conference Accolades
Senior Sarah Clay picked up the Spartans' first conference honor of the season on Nov. 22 when she was named Big Ten Diver of the Week. The Fishers, Ind., native earned the honor for the fourth time in her career after helping lead the Spartans to a win over St. Bonaventure on Nov. 18 with a pair of first-place finishes in the diving competitions. She posted a 312.90 on the 1-meter board and a score of 334.20 on the 3-meter.

Clay has been a top performer for the Spartans throughout the entire season, recording three first-place finishes on the 1-meter and four on the 3-meter in just five meets.

Next Up
The Spartans will close out the first half of their season next Saturday, Dec. 10 when they travel to Ball State for their final dual meet of 2011. Action is slated to start at 1 p.m.

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