Men's Swim and Dive Heads to B1G Championship

2/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving

Feb. 24, 2014

Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
February 26-March 1
Canham Natatorium
Ann Arbor, Mich.

TELEVISION: Big Ten Network (Tape Delay-Sunday, March 2 at 10:30 a.m. ET)
LIVE STREAM/LIVE RESULTS: Big Ten Championship Homepage

SETTING THE SCENE
 Indiana travels to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships, Feb. 26-March 1 at Canham Natatorium.
 Last year Indiana finished second at the Big Ten meet with 664 points. Michigan is the defending champion.
 The meet begins on Wednesday, Feb. 26 with one session beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
 Thursday, Feb. 27-Saturday, March 1, the morning session will begin at 11 a.m. ET, and the evening final session at 6:30 p.m. ET.
 Live results will be available at www.MGoBlue.com.There will also be a live stream for all sessions Wednesday-Saturday via the Big Ten Digital Network (fee applies).
 For all championship information, visit http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-swim/spec-rel/2014-b1g.html

NEWS AND NOTES
 The Hoosiers are looking for their 12th-straight top-five finish at the Big Ten meet and are aiming for a second-straight top-2 finish.
 The Hoosiers have won 24 team titles with the last coming in 2006.
 Senior Cody Miller is aiming for his fourth-straight Big Ten titles in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke.
 Senior James Wells is looking for his third-straight Big Ten title in the 100 back and the Hoosiers are looking to make it four-straight wins for the school in the event and six of the last eight titles.
 Senior Eric Ress won the event in 2011 with a Big Ten meet record time of 45.11. Former Hoosier great Ben Hesen won titles in 2007 and 2008.
 Despite all his success in the 200 distance, including a French national title in the 200-meter back, Ress is still looking for his first win in the event.
 Ress finished second in the 200 back in 2011 after breaking his hand in the 100 back race. He went on to finish second in both the 100 back and 200 back at the 2011 NCAA Championships.
 Ress was also the 200 back runner-up in 2013.
 Diver Darian Schmidt is the defending Big Ten Champion on the 1-meter springboard and won the 3-meter title in 2012. He is the reigning Big Ten Diver of the Year.
 Senior Conor Murphy is the reigning Big Ten Champion on the platform and finished third at the 2013 NCAA Championships.

TOP TIMES
 Here is where the top Hoosiers rank in the Big Ten heading into the championships:
50 Free: Anze Tavcar - 8th (20.18)
100 Free: Anze Tavcar - 13th (44.09)
200 Free: Jackson Miller - 17th (1:37.23)
500 Free: Eric Ress - 12th (4:23.03)
1,650 Free: Grayson Smith - 27th (15:43.67)
100 Back: James Wells - 6th (47.02)
200 Back: Eric Ress - 3rd (1:41.58)
100 Breast - Cody Miller - 9th (54.19)
200 Breast - Cody Miller - 2nd (1:55.10)
100 Butterfly - Max Irwin - 21st (48.51)
200 Butterfly - Steve Schmuhl - 5th (1:45.44)
200 IM - Cody Miller - 5th (1:45.95)
400 IM - Steve Schmuhl - 12th (3:53.20)

CSCAA NATIONAL RANKINGS
 The Indiana men come in at No. 6 in the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America national rankings released on Feb. 24.
 The Hoosiers are one of six teams in the Big Ten ranked in the top 25, joined by No. 2 Michigan, No. 7 Ohio State, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 22 Purdue and No. 25 Penn State.

AIMING FOR HISTORY
 Senior Cody Miller is looking to become the first swimmer in Big Ten history to win four-consecutive titles in the 100 breaststroke. He would be just the second swimmer in conference history to win four-straight 200 breaststroke titles, joining Michigan's Mike Barrowman (1988-91).
 Miller would be just the 11th swimmer in Big Ten history to win an event four years in a row.
- Matt Grevers (Northwestern): 50 Freestyle
- Gustavo Borges (Michigan): 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle
- John Kinsella (Indiana): 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle
- Chris Thompson (Michigan): 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle
- Peter Vanderkaay (Michigan): 500 Freestyle
- Ford Konno (Ohio State): 1500 meter Freestyle
- Mike Stamm (Indiana): 100 Backstroke
- Derya Buyukuncu (Michigan): 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke
- Tim Siciliano (Michigan): 400 IM

SEASON AT A GLANCE
 The Hoosiers finished the dual meet season at 6-4, with the four losses coming against No. 1 Michigan, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 California and No. 11 Stanford. Indiana has wins over No. 7 Louisville, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 19 Missouri, No. 25 Iowa, No. 23 Purdue and Kentucky.

Oct. 11 at California (L, 122-173)
Oct. 12 at Stanford (L, 111-183)
Oct. 25 MICHIGAN (L, 97-203)
Oct. 25 TEXAS (L, 96-204)
Nov. 1 TENNESSEE (W, 179-121)
Nov. 1 KENTUCKY (W, 208-92)
Jan. 18 at Iowa (W, 195-102)
Jan. 18 vs. Missouri (W, 173-124)
Jan. 31 LOUISVILLE (W, 162-138)
Feb. 8 PURDUE (W, 186-114)

USA SWIMMING NATIONAL TEAM
 Senior Cody Miller (100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke) and junior Steve Schmuhl (200 individual medley, 400 individual medley) have been named to the 2013-14 USA Swimming National Team.
 Miller's time of 1:00.82 ranks sixth among the men, set at the U.S. Open this past summer. He is fifth among the top-six 200-meter breaststrokers, going 2:10.99 at the U.S. Open. Miller is the three-time reigning Big Ten Champion in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke and also won the 200 individual medley title in 2013. He represented the U.S. at the World University Games this past July.
 Schmuhl is also on the team in two events, ranking among the top six in the 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley. It was a breakout year for Schmuhl, posting a time of 1:59.90 in the 200 IM at the U.S. Open. He went 4:16.07 in the 400-meter individual medley, also at the U.S. Open. Both are school records. The junior finished fifth in the 400-yard IM at the 2013 NCAA Championships, setting a new school record in prelims.

MILLER COMPETES AT DUEL IN THE POOL
 Senior Cody Miller was part of Team USA this past December as it posted a 132-131 victory over the European All-Stars at the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. Miller swam the 200 short-course meters breaststroke, placing sixth in 2:05.40. On the final day of competition he competed in the 100-meter breaststroke, finishing seventh in 59.15, and the 200 individual medley where he was sixth in a time of 1:56.31.

RESS GOING THE DISTANCE
 Known more for his prowess in the backstroke, senior Eric Ress has been making a name for himself in distance freestyle events this season. Ress has the top times this year for IU in the 500 freestyle (4:23.03-NCAA B cut) and 1,000 free (9:12.89). Ress has a pair of B cuts this year in the 500 free, going 4:23.14 in prelims at the USA Swimming Winter Nationals. He owns three of the five fastest times for the Hoosiers this season in the event.
 However, the senior is not giving up his bread-and-butter events, which saw him finish as runner up in both the 100 and 200 back at the 2011 NCAA Championships. Ress has a season best of 47.31 in the 100 back and owns four of the five fastest times in school history in the event, led by a 45.11 set at the 2011 Big Ten Championships.
 Ress has clocked a 1:41.58 in the 200 back this season to finish fourth at the USA Swimming Winter Nationals, and owns the five fastest times in school history, including his record of 1:38.96 set at the 2011 NCAA Championships. Three of those five times came last season, going 1:39.22 and 1:40.25 at the 2013 NCAA Championships, and 1:40.22 at the 2013 Big Ten Championships.

DIVING INTO THE RECORD BOOK
 Senior Darian Schmidt is well on his way to leaving his mark as part of the storied IU diving program. The 2013 Big Ten Diver of the Year and Big Ten Diver of the Championships, Schmidt has had a solid year in 2013-14. On Jan. 18 in Iowa City, Schmidt won his specialty event, the 3-meter springboard, with a score of 455.75. That is less than five points off his school record of 460.20 set last season.
 Schmidt is the reigning Big Ten champion on the 1-meter springboard and was the 2012 Big Ten champion on the 3-meter. He finished third on the 3-meter and sixth on the 1-meter at the 2013 NCAA Championships.
 He made his international debut last May as a member of the USA Diving Canada Cup team. This past December he teamed with Samuel Dorman to win the USA Diving national title in the 3-meter synchro competition.

UNDER THE RADAR
 With teammates such as Cody Miller and Eric Ress grabbing most of the Hoosier swimming headlines, junior Steve Schmuhl has quietly made his way up to one of the top IMers in collegiate swimming.
 Schmuhl posted the three-fastest times in school history in the 400 IM last season, led by a school record 3:41.98 in prelims at the NCAA Championships. He went on to finish fifth in 3:42.41, the second-fastest time in school history.
 He also picked up All-American honors in 2013 in the 400 medley relay (ninth) and 800 free relay (11th). He was fifth in the 400 IM, fourth in the 200 IM and second in the 200 butterfly at the 2013 Big Ten Championships, setting a new school record in prelims (1:43.53).

FRESH SWIMMERS
 Several newcomers have had an immediate impact with the Hoosiers, led by freshman sprinter Anze Tavcar. The Selje, Slovenia native has the top times for IU this season in the 50 free (20.18-NCAA B cut) and 100 free (44.09-NCAA B cut). His time of 20.18 ranks him the 12th-fastest Hoosier ever in the event, while his 44.09 in the 100 free ranks as the 11th-fastest individual.
 Bloomington native Max Irwin is making his way up the rankings in the butterfly, posting the fastest time of the season for a Hoosier in the 100 fly last weekend, going 48.51. He also has the fifth-fastest time of the year in the 200 fly at 1:48.08.
 Jackson Miller, from Walnut Creek, Calif., has the two-fastest times for IU in the 200 freestyle, led by a 1:37.23 (NCAA B cut) at the USA Swimming Winter Nationals where he placed 19th. He also has the third-fastest time in the 500 free, going 4:25.02 at Winter Nationals to place 21st.

BIG TEN HONORS
 Indiana picked up five Big Ten weekly honors this season, led by senior diver Darian Schmidt's four Big Ten Diver of the Week accolades.
 Schmidt was named Diver of the Week on Oct. 15, Dec. 24, Jan. 21 and Feb. 11.
 Senior Eric Ress broke through on the swimming side on Feb. 11 with his third career Big Ten Swimmer of the Week award.

2013 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
 The Hoosier men finished second at the 2013 Big Ten Championships with 664 points.
 Indiana was led by Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships Cody Miller, who won Big Ten titles in the 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke.
 Miller won the 200 IM in a Big Ten record time of 1:41.85. That is the fastest time in the NCAA entering the championship meet.
 He then won his third consecutive title in the 100 breaststroke with another Big Ten record -- this one at 51.50. He is the third swimmer in Big Ten history to win three-straight 100 breast titles.
 He followed that with a record-setting swim in the 200 breast, clocking a Big Ten record of 1:51.03. That is the second-fastest time ever in collegiate swimming.
 Miller also swam on he 200 medley relay that finished second (1:25.15-new school record) and 200 free relay that took third in a school-record time of 1:17.97.
 Junior James Wells was also successful in defending his title, winning a second-straight 100 backstroke crown in 46.04. His time of 45.52 in prelims puts him as the top seed in the NCAA Championships.
 Wells also placed third in the 200 medley relay, swam a career-best 20.18 in the 50 free prelims (elected not to swim bonus final) and fourth in the 200 back (1:42.22; 1:41.33 in prelims is a career best).
 Junior Darian Schmidt also won his second Big Ten title, taking the 1-meter crown with a school-record score of 432.15. That also makes him the third-highest scorer in Big Ten history.
 Schmidt was also second on the 3-meter springboard with 456.85 points.
 Junior Conor Murphy snagged his first Big Ten title, winning the platform with a school-record score of 495.55.
 A platform specialist, Murphy also scored points for the Hoosiers by finishing seventh on the 1-meter (333.25-career best) and 12th on the 3-meter (382.20-career best).
 Senior Daniel Kanorr had the best Big Ten meet of his career, taking sixth in the 50 free (19.54-3rd fastest in school history). He went 19.50 in prelims, which ranks as the second-fastest time.
 As a member of the 200 free relay that finished third, Kanorr set the school record in the 50 free with a leadoff leg of 19.43.
 Kanorr made the championship final of the 100 free, clocking a new school mark of 43.21, which is good for fifth. His prelim mark of 43.36 ranks second on the IU list.
 Senior Jim Barbiere placed fifth in the 500 free, with his time of 4:16.84 the second fastest in school history.
 Barbiere placed sixth in the 1,650 free, setting a new school record in the process (14:56.79).
 Sophomore Steve Schmuhl finished second in the 200 butterfly (1:43.55) and set a new school record of 1:43.54 in prelims.
 It was his second school record of the meet as he also set a new standard of 3:42.70 in the 400 IM. That was his prelim time, and he went on to finish fifth (3:43.51).
 Schmuhl was also fourth in the 200 IM, posting a career best of 1:43.65 which is the third-fastest time in school history.
 Schmuhl was part of the 800 free relay which placed second and set a new school record of 6:19.98.
 Junior Eric Ress returned to Big Ten Championship action finishing second in the 200 backstroke (1:40.22), third in the 100 back (46.14) and fifth in the 200 IM (1:43.92-career best).
 Ress was also on the 800 free relay team that took second and the 200 free relay team that finished third, both in school-record time.
 Miller, Murphy, Schmidt and Wells were all named to the Big Ten first team.
 Barbiere, Matt Gerth, Casey Johnson, Ress and Schmuhl were second-team honorees.
 In his final season of collegiate coaching, Dr. Jeff Huber was named Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year, while Schmidt was named Diver of the Championships for the second-straight season.
 Miller took home the Swimmer of the Championships award.

BIG TEN POWER
 Looze has directed the Hoosiers to nine top-four Big Ten finishes in 11 years at the helm of the Indiana program.
 Indiana finished third in 2003, fourth in 2004, second in 2005, first in 2006, fourth in 2007, second in 2008, second in 2011, third in 2012 and second in 2013.