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Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

sports

Sweet success.

NCAA Swimming Championships

The NCAA season is officially over, and it couldn’t have ended any better for senior \nBen Hesen.\nHesen brought home the first-place finish he had been striving for on the second day of the event in the 100-yard backstroke. With a time of 44.72, Hesen took nearly a second off his previous school-record time. The last Hoosier to win the event was Mike Stamm in 1973, and Hesen’s performance was the second-fastest time in NCAA history. \n“I was planning on (winning),” Hesen said. “I figured if I lost, I’d deal with it later. You’ve got to go in planning to win.” \nAlthough Hesen’s victory was the highlight of the weekend, several other Hoosiers also competed well in the tournament and finished 10th as a team. On the first day, the Hoosiers took home 11 All-American honors, including two relay teams and two divers.\nSenior Todd Patrick brought home an individual All-American honor when he placed third in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:44.55. It was the best finish for an IU swimmer in the event since 1975. Patrick also avenged his second place finish from the Big Ten Tournament when he out-touched Michigan’s Alex Vanderkaay from Michigan by .02 seconds. Vanderkaay took the title in the Big \nTen Tournament.\nThe 200-yard freestyle team consisting of Hesen, Patrick, junior Matt Lenton and freshman Ante Zoricic placed eighth with a time of 1:19.14. They had a preliminary time of 1:18.45, which was the second fastest in school history. The eighth-place finish is the best finish in the 200-yard freestyle for IU at the NCAAs. \nThe 400-yard medley team of Hesen, Patrick, Lenton and senior Pat Penoyar finished 10th and received All-American honors, as well. \nIn the diving well, freshman Landon Marzullo placed fourth, and senior Taylor Roberts finished 12th on the 1-meter springboard.\nOn the second day, the 200-yard medley relay team of Hesen, Patrick, Lenton and sophomore Ronnie Hehn set a new school record after their fifth-place finish. The relay team also holds three of the five fastest times in IU history. \nRoberts recorded a personal best with a fourth-place finish on the 3-meter springboard, while Marzullo placed 11th. \nThe third day saw yet another school record fall. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Hesen, Patrick, Lenton and Zoricic set a new school record in their 11th-place finish. Despite winning the 100-yard backstroke outright the night before, Hesen missed out on qualifying for the 200-yard backstroke by .01 seconds. \nSenior John Kevin Koehler went on to set a personal record with a time of 15:02.86 in the 1,650-yard freestyle. He placed 11th overall and recorded the fifth-fastest time in IU history. \n“I was a little upset,” Koehler said. “I was trying to go for a school record. But the season ended on a good note at the NCAA’s. To be able to do that and to contribute personally is really great.” \nOverall, IU coach Ray Looze said he was proud and impressed with his team’s showing \nthis year. \n“These past few days have been fantastic,” Looze said. “I’m really proud of all the guys. Hesen’s win was a dream come true for him, and it looked great for the program.”\nLooze also said he was sad to see the seniors go, and called this season the “most rewarding season” he has ever been involved in. \n“They’re a team I’m always going to remember,” Looze said. “These guys are kind\nof special.”

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