Jan. 16, 2004
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After its divers were embarrassed last weekend by Purdue freshmen Bethany Jensen and Amanda Miller, the Indiana swimmers responded in convincing fashion, downing the Boilermakers, 169-123, Friday night at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center.
Purdue's divers, competing a week early due to the ongoing World Cup Trials, gave their swimming cohorts a 27-11 lead entering the second portion of the dual meet. Unfortunately, the Boilermakers would not be able to gain another victory as the No. 12-ranked Hoosiers outraced their intrastate rivals through the remaining 14 events.
"They just beat us and they beat us very soundly," said head coach Cathy Wright-Eger. "We need to get ready for tomorrow's meet against Michigan State and put this loss behind us. We have to keep moving forward. One positive sign from this meet was that we didn't give up at all. We refused to let the losses get us down and we kept fighting."
Wright Eger added that seniors Lindsay Kirchoff and Autumn Sample were among the team's highlights, as both recorded season bests in their respective events. Kirchoff clocked short course meter times of 1:13.43 in the 100-breaststroke and a 2:39.48 in the 200 breast. Sample posted her season-best mark in the 200 butterfly with a 2:19.44.
Indiana built up its lead right from the first event, stealing the top two spots in the 200 medley relay. The Hoosiers then captured the top three spots in four of the next five events, including the 800 and 200 free, 100 back and 200 fly.
Purdue mounted a slight comeback in the later stages of the meet, taking the two and three spots in five events. Following Tracy Duchac's third-place showing in the 50 free, Susan Hentschel and Katie Seleskie took the second and third spots in the 100 free. Other top-three point totals were secured by Katharine Telfer and Lydia DeNuccio in the 200 back, Erica Chandler and Yvonne Laaper in the 400 free, Christine Leupold and Carlene Takaki in the 100 fly and Jennifer Merte and Jenni Bean in the 200 individual medley.
Kirchoff, Rory Belk and Bean collected first through third points in the 200 breast after Indiana designated their swimmers as exhibitions.
Saturday afternoon at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center, the men's and women's teams wrap up their home dual meet season, welcoming in the Michigan State Spartans. Prior to the meet, nine seniors will be recognized in a special ceremony. The Boilermakers being honored are Bean, Kirchoff, Sample, Tamas Bessenyei, Garth Bringman, Nick Cenci, Kyle Jackson, Ian Lehman and Tony Ten Haagen. Competition is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. with the women's 200 medley relay.