University of Minnesota Athletics
Woodson, Gophers finish off UNC swimmers, 218-146
11/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
The No. 10 Gophers continued their weekend dominance of No. 16 North Carolina in their dual meet Saturday, polishing off a 218-146 victory at the Dorothy L. Sheppard pool. The win improves the Gophers’ 2007-08 dual meet record to 2-1. Mike Woodson had a big day for the host Gophers, as he claimed wins in the 100 freestyle and as the leadoff swimmer for the Gopher victories in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
The final score was not the truest measure of the Gophers’ success this weekend, as a majority of Gopher swimmers were competing in an exhibition classification for all of Saturday’s events.
The Gophers opened competition on Saturday by winning the 400 medley relay in 3:18.22. The quartet of David Plummer, Jon Roberts, Russ Payne and Curt Carlson bested the top team from UNC by more than five seconds.
Cole Young narrowly missed claiming his second diving title of the weekend, as he was edged by the Tar Heels’ Ryan Funderburk in the 3-meter competition. The Gophers’ Drew Brown and Tyler Jepsen finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Gophers continued their traditional relay prowess one event later in the 200 freestyle relay, as the Gophers’ team of Woodson, Colin Lee-To, Michael Richards and Steve Miller won in 1:22.23. The Gopher B’ team of Jason Timmer, Tyler Schmidt, Matt Engel and Kevin Baseheart touched at 1:22.87 and were also quicker than UNC’s top squad.
The 400 IM was a tribute to the Gophers’ depth and told the story of the entire meet. Although the Tar Heels’ Tyler Harris won the event in 3:54.14, his finish sandwiched Minnesota’s Alex Wold (3:57.36), Russ Payne (4:00.67), and Josh Griffey (4:01.15) between he and the next fastest UNC swimmer.
The highlight of the day came for the Gophers in the 100 freestyle, where although the Gophers would only count their fastest swimmer for meet points, a quartet of Gophers swept the event. Following Woodson, the Gophers’ Schmidt (45.64), Carlson (45.79) and Miller (46.76) all finished ahead of UNC’s Zach Swartz, who was the official second place finisher.
The Gophers’ Mike Holmes and Ray Betuzzi dueled in the 500 freestyle three events later, with Holmes getting the win in 4:29.60
In the final individual event of the meet, the Gophers’ All-American junior Jon Roberts claimed a victory in the 200 breaststroke, finishing in 2:01.33. It was Roberts’ second individual victory of the meet and third overall. The Gophers also got a victory from Payne in the 200 backstroke, as he touched out UNC’s Jeff James by .18 to win in 1:48.26
The Gophers team of Woodson, Carlson, Schmidt and Miller capped off the weekend’s competition with a win in the 400 freestyle relay, touching in 3:02.10.
The maroon and gold are next in action at next weekend’s Minnesota Grand Prix, hosted by Minnesota at the University Aquatic Center.
Players Mentioned
