MSU Swimming Rallies Fall Short At Iowa :: Men's dual comes down to final event, MSU women dominate diving for second straight week

Oct. 26, 2007

IOWA CITY - The Michigan State men's and women's swimming & diving teams dropped two tight contests Friday night at UI Fieldhouse Pool. The Spartan men rallied from a large deficit only to lose by the slimmest of margins, 150.5-149.5, while the women's team dropped a 178-122 final.

Freshman Ricky Forrest and senior Adam Schmitt led the Spartans, combining for four individual first-place finishes, while Schmitt swam the anchor leg of the 400 free relay. Forrest, in his MSU debut, won the 1,000 free (9:33.97) and 200 fly (1:54.97) to keep the meet close early. Schmitt clocked a 20.89 in the 50 free and a 1:53.71 in the 200 IM giving the Spartans a chance going into the 400 free relay, the final event of the night.

MSU took first in the final relay, while the second Spartan group tied with Iowa's quartet, forcing a split of the final team points. In the end, Michigan State fell just one point short.

"Everyone battled really hard," head coach Matt Gianiodis said. "We were down by a lot and we came back strong. I'm really proud of the way we battled."

Gianiodis also cited freshman kevin Puskaric and sophomore Marcus Poteete as other top performers. Puskaric won the 200 breast with a time of 2:04.54, while Poteete clocked a first-place effort in the 100 fly (51.23). Sophomore Joe Schmitt also took first place in the 200 free (1:40.60).

The women's dual wasn't as close team-wise, but the Spartans turned in several notable showings. Michigan State continued its dominance in diving, as juniors Danielle Williams and Alycia Mokedanz claimed the one- and three-meter boards. Junior Marlys Fuqua added a first-place swim in the 500 free (5:02.44).

Both Spartan swim teams travel to St. Bonaventure on Thursday, Nov. 8.