The Missouri men’s and women’s swim teams opened up Southeastern Conference action Thursday in a dual meet against Tennessee. The men fell 164-136 and the women lost 176-124.
Many of the Tigers’ top swimmers fought through illness at the meet. This, however, did not stop them from having strong swims.
“The thing about swimmers is that when one gets sick, you pass it around,” junior Michael Chadwick said.
Chadwick, one of the sick swimmers, won both the 100-yard freestyle and 50-yard freestyle for the Tigers. In the 50-yard freestyle, he posted the fourth fastest time by any NCAA swimmer so far this season. His 100-yard freestyle time was the second fastest collegiate time of the year.
“He certainly stepped up today even though he doesn’t feel great,” coach Greg Rhodenbaugh said. “He’s in a great spot, so we’re really excited about him.”
Chadwick was also a member of the 200-medley relay team that took first place. He led the charge with a 19.41 split in his 50-yard freestyle. On the relay, junior Carter Griffin swam the backstroke leg, junior Fabian Schwingenschlogl swam breaststroke and junior Andrew Sansoucie swam butterfly.
Senior Abby Duncan had a strong showing for the women’s team. Duncan posted the fastest NCAA 200-yard breaststroke time of the season. She also won the 100-yard breaststroke and swam the breaststroke leg on the winning 200-yard medley relay.
“I’ve been focusing a lot on my breaststroke this season, and I was very happy with that right now in the season,” Duncan said.
The medley relay team consisted of junior backstroker Nadine Laemmler, Duncan, freshman butterflier Maddie Gehrke and senior freestyler Anna Patterson.
Laemmler also had a number of strong swims for the Tigers. Along with winning the medley relay, she finished first in the 200-yard backstroke. Her time in the 200-yard backstroke was the seventh fastest time in program history and the sixth fastest NCAA swim this year. She also finished second in the 100-yard backstroke.
“I think her backstrokes were incredible,” Duncan said. “I thought that was very good for her.”
The meet also saw the return of senior Matthew Margritier, an All-American in the 200-yard freestyle relay last year. Margritier was sidelined in the first meet due to a shoulder injury. He only swam the freestyle leg of an exhibition medley relay and the 50-yard freestyle.
Rhodenbaugh had Margritier swim in a smaller role to limit stress on his shoulder.
“Hopefully this will be a good checkpoint where he can take off from here,” Rhodenbaugh said.
Rhodenbaugh expects Margritier to be in good shape for the next men’s meet.
A number of Mizzou divers had a strong showing at the meet. Senior Clark Thomas won the men’s one-meter diving event, and sophomore Alexa Beckwith won the event for the women. Additionally, Kendra Keiser won the three-meter diving event.
Tennessee has a traditionally strong swimming program. Last season the Volunteers finished in the top 15 teams at Nationals for both men’s and women’s.
Duncan enjoyed competing against a high-caliber team.
“It’s really good for us to race teams like that,” she said. “Get some more competition instead of just schools around Missouri and it just gives us a good outlook and focus to stay strong throughout the season.”
The women next compete tomorrow and Saturday at the Southern Methodist University Classic. Eight women swimmers and one diver will compete at the meet.
The full men’s and women’s team will be back in action on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 against Kentucky, Northwestern and Southern Illinois.