Dec. 7, 2002
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University men's swim team closed out their weekend trip to Oxford, Ohio, by capturing a second-place finish in the Ninth Annual Miami Invitational. The women's team dropped two spots on the final day of competition, finishing eighth out of the 11-team field.
The men's team came in second with 1,536 total points, trailing only Kenyon College's 2,209.50 points. The Hilltoppers were boosted by second-place finishes from sophomore Nick Bracco and junior Ryan Crosby. Bracco swam a 1:50.00 (fastest time by a WKU swimmer this season) in the 200 Backstroke, while Crosby posted a :49.60 in the 100 Butterfly (also a WKU season's best).
Head coach Bill Powell also saw two of his relay teams place third on Saturday. Crosby teamed with seniors Gord Veldman and Jerod Janes, and freshman Chris Tarter to take third in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 1:31.88. The trio of Janes, Veldman and Crosby also earned third in the 400 Freestyle Relay, this time with junior Matt Nalbone completing the lineup, finishing at 3:04.45. Janes also chipped in a fourth-place finish in the 100 Freestyle, coming in at :45.93 (a WKU season's best time).
The Lady Toppers came in eighth with 793 total points, while the University of Illinois claimed first with 1,453 points. Junior Marci Kascir earned the squad's highest finish on the day, taking second in the 1-meter dive with a score of 250.90. Sophomore Lucy Faria earned a sixth-place finish in the 200 Breaststroke, finishing at 2:23.34 (a WKU season's best time). Freshman Jordan Beck came in seventh in the 200 Backstroke with a time of 2:07.68 (a WKU season's best time).
Both squads are off until after the New Year, but will return to action on Jan. 4, 2003 at the Gulf Coast Invitational in Sarasota, Fla.
Friday's Recap
With two days of competition in the books, both Western Kentucky University swim teams have held their own against an 11-team field at the Ninth Annual Miami Invitational. The men's team used four first-place finishes, including one in record-breaking fashion, to place second following Friday's action, while the Lady Toppers sit in sixth.
The men's team found themselves in sixth place with 105 points following Thursday's four events. By Friday night, the Hilltoppers had amassed 895 points, trailing only Kenyon College with 1,239 points. The WKU men made their charge with four first-place finishes, highlighted by juniors Crosby and Jay Smith and freshmen Chris Raniere and Shane Music, who captured first in the 200 Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:21.94. Their time broke the meet record of 1:22.20, established by the University of Missouri on Nov. 1, 1994.
Veldman and Janes both scored individual wins on Friday by recording the fastest WKU times on the season in their respective events. Veldman's victory came in the 100 Backstroke, where he finished at :48.76. Janes earned first in the 50 Freestyle with a time of :20.50.
Veldman also added a third place finish in the 50 Free (:20.97). The Hilltoppers final victory came in the 400 Medley Relay where Veldman, Janes and Crosby teamed up with Tarter to take first with a time of 3:21.23.
The Lady Toppers ended Thursday's competition with 105 points and used several strong finishes on Friday to close the day with 475 points. Sophomore Alexis Reick took fourth in the 100 Backstroke with a time of :58.41 (fastest by any WKU swimmer this season). Senior Carol Brown also posted a season best for the Lady Toppers, earning an eighth place finish in the 50 Free by coming in at :24.24. Kascir placed sixth in the 3-meter Dive with a score of 397.05.
