University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Open Huge Lead On North Carolina
11/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
The No. 10 Minnesota men's swimming and diving team opened a 118-68 lead over No. 12 North Carolina this evening to start a two-day dual meet in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Gophers won eight of 10 events, led by sophomores Curt Carlson and Michael Richards and freshman Karl Burdis, who figured in two event victories apiece. The two-day season-opening meet continues tomorrow at noon.
The highlight event for Minnesota was the 50 freestyle where the Gophers pulled off a 1-2-3-4 finish, racking up 16 team points. The tightly contested race was claimed by Richards in a time of 20.45. Carlson was just behind in 20.54, followed by Colin Lee-To in 20.57 and Steve Miller in 20.58.
The Gophers began the evening with a strong showing in the 200 medley relay. Burdis led off the Gophers in 23.54 and they never looked back as Lee-To, Anthony Portela and Michael Richards closed out the Gophers in a time of 1:30.02. North Carolina was a distant second in 1:32.30 while the Gophers B team of Mark Solfelt, Rob Schnitzler, Kevin Baseheart and Steve Miller took third in 1:32.64.
The 1000 freestyle pit a battle between two NCAA All-Americans, Minnesota's Mike Holmes and North Carolina's Josef Kinderwater. Although Kinderwater posted a better finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships, taking fifth to Holmes' 12th place showing, the senior from Eagan was up to the challenge tonight. Holmes pulled away in the final 150 to win in a time of 9:10.23. Kinderwater was second in 9:11.46. Last year's dual featured a similar result with Holmes holding off Kinderwater by .60 seconds.
Carlson was back on the blocks for the 200 freestyle, where he posted an impressive 1:37.88 to touch first. The Heels' Evan Reed was second in 1:38.36, followed by junior Ray Betuzzi in 1:38.42. Freshman Dominique Massie-Martel took fourth place with a time of 1:40.25.
Burdis posted his first collegiate event victory, taking the 100 backstroke in a time of 49.57. Burdis dominated the final 50 to beat North Carolina's Tommy Wyher (49.74). Lee-To took the win in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 54.81. Sophomore Ivan Gutesa was a distant second in 56.15 and Schnitzler was fourth in 58.47.
Junior Alex Wold and Baseheart staged a solid race in the 200 butterfly with Wold claiming the win in 1:49.26. Baseheart clocked a time of 1:49.96.
The Gophers closed out the night with a dominating swim in the 800 freestyle relay. The team of Carlson, Baseheart, Betuzzi and Wold all swim splits of 1:39.36 or faster and combined for a time of 6:36.72. UNC was far back in 6:41.31.
The Tar Heels' only victories came in 1-meter diving and the 200 individual medley. UNC's David MacDonald took the 1-meter with a score of 336.68. Minnesota's Cole Young was second with a tally of 310.35. In the 200 IM, Wold was unable to catch UNC's Tyler Harris. Wold clocked a 1:51.79 and Mark Solfelt was third in 1:51.80.
Players Mentioned
