Jan. 14, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Three-place sweeps were the rule, not the exception, during No. 14 Purdue's, 216-79, victory over Illinois State Saturday at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center.
Of the 14 individual-based competitions, Purdue swept the top-three places in 11 of them. In the 1000 free, 200 back and 1-meter diving, the Boilermakers had to settle for first and second-place showings.
"We didn't predict this outcome," said Purdue head coach Cathy Wright-Eger. "I'm impressed with this team's mental toughness, because coming out of practice we were sore, tired and cranky. They are pushing themselves no matter where they are or who they're competing against."
Rory Belk, Erica Chandler, Susan Hentschel and Carrie McCambridge led the club with two wins each. Belk swept the breaststroke events with marks of 1:04.61 and 2:18.69, and Hentschel won the 100 free with an NCAA provisional cut of 50.90 and the 200 free in 1:51.29.
Senior co-captain Chandler won the 500 free and 400 IM, and also was part of the winning 200 medley relay, which finished in 1:46.22.
McCambridge took back her 3-meter varsity and pool records from teammate Amanda Miller, scoring 361.05 points. Miller's previous record, set earlier this season, was 349.70 points.
Miller was the runner-up to McCambridge off both boards Saturday, collecting 301.65 points off the 1-meter and 323.48 off the 3-meter.
Saturday's dual was the final home meet for the senior class, which includes McCambridge and Chandler, along with Ashley Koehn, Yvonne Laaper and Amber Kerns.
Wright-Eger has been saying goodbye to senior classes at Purdue for 19 years, but that didn't stop her from getting teary during pre-meet ceremonies.
"This class has gotten us to where we are today" said Wright-Eger. "We're undefeated and regularly setting and breaking records. I give them all the credit in the world. They're a no-nonsense group, which loves the sport, working hard and just being here. They want to go out on top and feel special."
One major goal, which this senior class has yet to accomplish, is defeat Indiana. They meet their intrastate rivals next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Bloomington.
Wright-Eger is confident her team can beat IU, but she thought the same thing last year.
"On paper, we can beat the Hoosiers, but I also said that last year and we got our clocks cleaned," said Wright-Eger. "Our group of sophomores and juniors are loaded with a confidence that they maybe didn't have last year. This team realizes it can swim fast no matter how they feel."