Spartan Swim Teams Travel To Iowa

Oct. 26, 2007

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THE STARTING BLOCK
Michigan State swimming & diving teams travel to Iowa Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. The dual meet will be the second contest of the season for the MSU women's team, who defeated Illinois, 157-141, last weekend. The Spartan men will be making their season debut against the Hawkeyes.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS(WOMEN)
The Michigan State women's swimming & diving team enters its 39th season of competition with 27 athletes on its roster, none of which are seniors. This season's triumvirate of captains is juniors Marlys Fuqua, Heather Kiluk and Alycia Mokedanz. Another junior, Julie Kahn, is the team's top freestyle spriter, while Fuqua leads MSU in distance free. Freshman Sarah Fisher and sophomore Sarah Biasello are the leaders in the back and breast, respectively, while freshman Rebecca Ebner is the team's top butterflier. Kiluk and sophomore Emma Schaefer are swimmers to watch in the IM and Mokedanz and junior Danielle Williams are the team's top divers.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS (MEN)
Twenty-four Spartans represent the 86th edition of the MSU men's team. Seniors Adam Schmitt, Matt McNichols and Jason Vadney serve as team captains. Schmitt is the team's best swimmer, headlining the free and IM groups. Sophomores Joe Schmitt, Sho Koba and Krysztof Olszewski are other top free swimmers. Sophomore Marcus Poteete will anchor the team's fly and IM corps, while freshman kevin Puskaric and sophomore Jon LaRocque will lead the breast and back, respectively. Sophomores David Garry and Ivan Zalessov are the team's divers.

WILLIAMS HONORED BY BIG TEN
Danielle Williams was named Women's Big Ten Diver of the Week after winning both boards last weekend. Williams posted a 302.40 on the one-meter, and a 321.08 in three-meter diving. Williams keyed MSU to a 30-6 team diving points advantage vs. Illinois.

NOT A BAD START
Stephanie Fisher won both backstroke events and swam on two winning relays in her collegiate debut against Illinois. The Hartland, Wis., native clocked a 58.58 in the 100 back and 2:05.00 in the 200 back.

TEAMWORK
The women's team controlled both relays last week, taking the top two spots in the 200 medley relay and first in the 400 free relay. Stephanie Fisher and Julie Kahn were the only two Spartans to each take part on a scoring relay team.

POTEETE POTENTIAL OLYMPIAN
Perhaps no Spartan had a better offseason than Marcus Poteete, who was the only MSU swimmer to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Trials. Poteete clocked a 55.40 en route to finishing second place in the 100 fly at the U.S. Central Zone Championship in Ohio. The Olympic trials will be held in Omaha, Neb., in July 2008.

GO GREEN...GO WHITE
MSU kicked off the season with a Green-White intrasquad meet on Oct. 12. The Green team, led by junior Marly Fuqua and Adam and Joe Schmitt, won by a 251-214 final score.

...GO PINK
Last Saturday's women's dual meet versus Illinois doubled as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Michigan State Swimming & Diving thanks all those who contributed to help the Spartans make a difference.

UP NEXT
Michigan State travels to St. Bonaventure on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.