Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
USA Winter Nationals
Two Spartans Swam Olympic Trial Cuts at USA Winter Nationals
12/3/2018 1:29:00 PM | Swimming and Diving
Dec. 3, 2018
Results
EAST LANSING, Mich.-- The Michigan State swimming & diving team sent 13 swimmers to the USA Winter Nationals last weekend in Greensboro, N.C.
The Spartan men claimed first-place overall in collegiate competition with 40 points.
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"This meet for the Spartans, US Nationals, was really just outstanding and it's a combination of a lot of work that started months ago," said Associate Head Coach Kathleen Milloy. "There were so many great stories out of it whether it's our freshman we had at the meet coming in and handling their first Winter Nationals to juniors like Scott Piper or senior, Ana Sortland who put themselves in this position to get lifetime bests at this high level of competition."
Jonathan Lee, Kevin Mills, Nehemiah Mork, Guy Moskovich, Scott Piper, Charlie Ryan, Jacob Sauter, Michael Schwers, Lucas Smiarowski and Payton Woods made the trip from the men's side, while Ellie Roche, Ana Sortland and Erin Szara competed for the women.
Piper, in the 200 IM, took fourth place with a time of 2:03.69 which was a new school record and qualified him for the 2020 Olympic Trials. Piper also took first in the C Finals of the 400 IM, getting a new lifetime best with a time of 4:30.29. To finish, Piper, with another new lifetime best as he placed tenth in the 200 butterfly (2:03.38).
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Woods walked away from the weekend with a 2020 Olympic Trial qualification, a new lifetime best and a new MSU varsity record in the 50 freestyle. He clocked a time of 23.05 in the A Finals to take sixth place.
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In the 100 breaststroke C Finals, Szara broke a varsity school record with a time of 1:11.43, finishing 20th overall.
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Sauter took first place in the C Finals of the 400 freestyle and recorded the second-fastest time of his career, 4:04.05.
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"Not only was the swimming spectacular but all 13 represented what it really, really means to be a collegiate student-athlete in the Big Ten," said Milloy. "The swimming was exciting, winning the men's college part of it was super exciting, and the Olympic trial cuts. They're just reaching for bigger and bigger goals and having fun doing it"
The Spartans return to competition as a team on Jan. 12 when they host Purdue at McCaffree Pool.
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