Seniors break school records at NCAA's

Seniors Sergiy Fesenko and Kevin Swander eclipsed their own school records as the IU men's swimming and diving team concluded its season with a 12th-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships in Atlanta this weekend. \nThe Hoosiers tallied 115.5 points, the most since the 1977 NCAA Championships, when IU scored 173 points for a fourth-place finish. Additionally, the 12th-place finish ties IU's best since the 1989 NCAA Championships. Overall, the University of Auburn scored 480.5 points to hold off the University of Arizona(440.5) en route to its fourth consecutive NCAA championship.\n"I was really pleased," said IU coach Ray Looze. "The team showed a lot of character and heart, which was inspirational. They scratched and clawed for every point they scored."\nOn the second day of the championships, Swander broke his previous school record in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 52:54, just .02 seconds behind the University of California's Henrique Barbosa's event-winning time of 52.52. Swander nearly recorded IU's first individual NCAA title since Jim Montgomery swept the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events in 1976. \nSwander's 52:54 time now resides as the sixth-fastest 100-yard breaststroke time in NCAA history, a mark that placed Swander among elite company. The four swimmers ahead of Barbosa and Swander own nine Olympic medals, including five golds.\n"It's cool to hear my name mentioned with those guys," Swander said. "It's pretty good company to be associated with. When the only guys before you are Olympians, it's a good motivation and a sign of things to come."\nOn the third day of competition, Fesenko eclipsed his previous school record in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a 10th-place time of 14:58.02. With his effort, Fesenko became the first sub-15 minute miler in IU swimming history. Fesenko's previous school record in the event took place at the 2005 Big Ten Championships, in which he swam to a time of 15:00.49. His record-breaking performance also garnered him his fifth All-American award.\n"He wasn't having the best meet and before the event, I asked him what his plans were," Looze said. "He said 'to show all the character I have.' He didn't do it with his A-game, but with his heart. It was a neat way to finish off his career."\nWith the seniors going out in style, the Hoosiers also caught a glimpse of IU swimming and diving's future.\nFreshman Nick Walkotten garnered his second All-American accolade with a ninth-place time of 1:44.62 in the 200-yard butterfly. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year recorded the second fastest time in IU history.\nAnother underclassmen provided a spark for the Hoosiers as sophomore Ben Hesen tied for fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 46.80. \nLooze said he was pleased with what the Hoosiers have to look forward to and credits this season's accomplishments with playing a pivotal role in years to come. In February, IU won the Big Ten conference title.\n"We want to win the Big Ten title every year and place in the top 10 nationally," Looze said. "The nucleus and the chemistry we've established this year will go a long way in helping accomplish that"