University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Easily Defeat North Carolina 238-132
11/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
The sixth-ranked Minnesota men's swimming and diving team completed a dominating 238-132 victory over No. 22 North Carolina this afternoon in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Gophers won seven of the 10 events and 14 during the two-day dual to improve to 3-0 on the season. The Gophers won all five relays during the two-day competition and are unbeaten in nine relay events this season. Mario Delac, Evan Bernier, Ray Betuzzi and Drew Knoechel won individual events for the Gophers this afternoon.
The Gophers began the afternoon with an easy win in the 400 medley relay. The team of Russ Payne, Knoechel, Anthony Portela and Zach Wood coasted to a victory in a time of 3:19.37. Minnesota's B team of David Plummer, Colin Lee-To, Dan Berve and Matt Engel took second in 3:24.59. The Tar Heels posted the top two finishers in 3-meter diving with Ryan Funderburk scoring a 388.40 for the win. Minnesota's Cole Young was third with an NCAA qualifying score of 332.20.
Minnesota came back with another relay win in the 200 free relay. The A team of Jason Timmer, Bernier, Engel and Betuzzi touched first in 1:22.24. The Minnesota B team of Ales Volcansek, Delac, Lee-To and Tyler Schmidt also finished ahead of UNC's top team in 1:23.05. In the 400 individual medley, Payne was the Gophers' top finisher in third with a time of 4:01.41, just behind the winning time of UNC's Yi-Khy Saw (4:00.43).
Delac led the pack in the 100 freestyle, winning with a time of 45.66. Schmidt was third in 45.92. Jeff James of North Carolina held off the Gophers' Plummer in the 200 backstroke, touching the wall in 1:49.07, just .18 seconds ahead of Plummer. Payne was third in 1:51.38.
Minnesota had its best event of the day in the 100 butterfly, taking the top three spots. Bernier was first in 49.87, followed by Engel (50.57) and Portela (50.76). Betuzzi claimed his second individual win of the two-day competition, taking the 500 freestyle in 4:29.71. He won the 200 freestyle on Friday night.
Knoechel breezed to victory in the 200 breaststroke with a winning time of 2:05.95. Lee-To was second in 2:08.00 with UNC's Aaron Burns third in 2:09.13. Minnesota closed the meet with a convincing win in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Bernier, Delac, Engel and Schmidt was victorious in 3:01.28, easily ahead of North Carolina's top time of 3:04.60.
Minnesota returns to action November 17-19 when it hosts the Minnesota Invitational at University Aquatic Center.
Players Mentioned
