Around The Game

Women's swimming wins invitational, \nqualifies for NCAAs\nFor the fifth consecutive season the women's swimming and diving team won the Indiana Invitational this past weekend.\nThis year, IU scored 838 points -- 124 more than second-place Pittsburgh -- en route to the title.\nRounding out the field was third place No. 23 Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Evansville.\nMore than just winning their home event, three IU swimmers and divers and a relay team recorded NCAA qualifying times.\nTwo of those times came in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Senior Sarah Fiden took first place for IU with an NCAA "A" qualifying time of 16:23.82. Following Fiden was sophomore Lauren Torpey who finished second with an NCAA "B" qualifying time of 16:47.07. Following Fiden and Torpey were two other Hoosiers rounding out the top five. \nFreshman Leila Vaziri added to the potential list of Hoosiers swimming at the NCAA meet with her third and fourth place finishes in the 200-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle. Her times in both races were fast enough for NCAA "B" qualifying times. \nMen finish second\nThe IU men's swimming and diving team finished second in the Indiana Invitational this past weekend, defeating squads from Michigan State, Evansville, Missouri, Air Force, and Kentucky. Pittsburgh took first place with a final score of 868.5. The Panthers were led by senior Eric Limkemann who finished first in two events, the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter freestyle. \nThe Hoosiers were led by the relay team of seniors Matt Leach, Mike Payne, sophomore Kevin Swander, and junior Murph Halasz, who finished first in the 200-meter medley relay, the only event the IU men's squad won during the weekend. \nIndividually, the men's squad was led by juniors Richard Bryant and Halasz, and freshman Colin Russell, who finished second in the 400-meter individual medley, the 100-meter butterfly, and 200-meter freestyle, respectively. Going into the meet, IU knew it might be behind the eight ball, as Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Michigan State were shaved down and rested for this meet. Swimming coach Ray Looze said he wasn't too disappointed with the results.\n"I know the guys are trying really hard," Looze said in a statement following the Saturday session. "We are going against a tapered and shaved team that is ranked higher than us. Overall, we are where we need to be and we are swimming in a very difficult meet. I am pleased."\nCooper's victory kicks off season\nIU senior Coyte Cooper's victory in the 141-pound weight class combined with four other place showings jumpstarted IU's season with an impressive debut at the Missouri Open Sunday. With over 400 wrestlers competing in the day-long national tournament, head coach Duane Goldman's squad earned national recognition with the performances it put in.\nCooper, seeded first in his weight class, steamrolled through his four matches completing the title run by beating Missouri's JP Reese in the championship. A senior who is looked to for experience and leadership on a team that is young, Cooper backed up his top 10 national ranking with this win. Also turning in a great performance was junior Andy Rios. The junior battled his way through the 184-pound weight class to finish second place. Rios lost a 5-2 decision in the finals to top-ranked Brian Glynn from Illinois. \nJunior Pat DeGain, also ranked in the top 10 nationally in the 197-pound weight class, was upset in his first match by Cumberland College's Eric Flincham. IU erased this setback with excellent showings in other classes. IU freshman Matt McIntire lost a close 4-3 decision to Jeremy Spates of Missouri in the finals of the 149-pound class to receive second place. Sophomore Brady Richardson battled back from a semifinals loss to finish in fourth place in the 174-pound class while sophomore Cameron Sakon complimented this with a fourth place showing in the 141-pound weight class. These efforts speared IU's highly respectable showing and puts it on the right path heading into the next meet. \nThe Hoosiers open up their own home schedule this Saturday with a three-team meet at University Gym. They will host Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Manchester with matches beginning at 2 p.m.