Feb. 21, 2004
Stanford, Calif. - In one of the fastest collegiate dual meets in history, the second-ranked Stanford men's swimming and diving team defeated cross-town rival California, 126-117, at the Avery Aquatic Center before a rowdy crowd of 1,377. The Cardinal remain perfect with a 7-0 dual meet record, 4-0 in the Pac-10.
With over 30 swimming alumni on hand to watch, Stanford improved its all-time record over California to 93-13 while winning their 33rd consecutive dual meet (dating back to the 2000 season).
"Senior Day is always an exciting meet, and actually being a senior this yearmade it that much more exciting," said Cardinal swimmer Andrew Schnell. "The crowd is always amazing, and having so many people there from both teams despite some unfavorable weather made itfun to swim. Both teams swam extremely well and I am happy that our team was able to pull out a victory over a great Cal team."
The first pool record fell in the very first event of the meet - the 400 yard medley relay. California's relay team turned in a time of 3:09.16 to break the existing pool record of 3:10.82 set by Stanford in 2003. The Cardinal relay team of Peter Marshall, Michael Bruce, Jayme Cramer and Ben Wildman-Tobriner turned in a time of 3:10.65, which also bettered the old pool record, to place second. Both schools times were automatic qualifiers for NCAAs. Stanford then went 1-2 in the 1000 yard freestyle as freshman Shaun Phillips clocked in with his fastest time of the season at 9:02.59 followed by teammate Michael McLean (9:03.65). The Cardinal continued to roll as they swept the top three spots in the 200 yard freestyle as Jayme Cramer (1:36.77), Andy Grant (1:37.06) and Tobias Oriwol (1:37.28) placed for Stanford.
Event four was the 50 freestyle which was won by Cal's Duje Draganja in a pool record time of 19.42, breaking the previous record of 19.46 held by Stanford's Randall Bal and Golden Bear Anthony Erwin. Stanford's Peter Marshall led the Cardinal with a 3-4-5 finish (19.98) in an NCAA provisionally qualifying time. Freshman Ben Wildman-Tobriner (20.04) and senior Bobby O'Bryan (20.12) were right behind Marshall. In a very tight race, Markus Rogan won the 200 IM in an NCAA qualifying time of 1:46.16 while teammate Hongzhe Sun, who turned in a strong last 50 yards, (1:47.57) placed second for Stanford.
Cal's Louie Gagnet won the one-meter diving event with a score of 307.50. Cardinal Jesse Fonner took third (273.95). Pool records continued to fall as junior Jayme Cramer won his second event of the day when he claimed victory in the 200 yard butterfly. With 50 yards to go, Cramer trailed by a second, then closed the gap and won in a time of 1:44.40 (NCAA qualifying time). Cramer shattered his own pool record swim of 1:45.58 set in 2003. California's Cavic Milorad turned in a pool record-breaking time of 1:44.83 to finish second. Matt McDonald placed third, clocking in at 1:45.62.
Event eight saw another pool record fall as Golden Bear Duje Draganja won the 100 yard freestyle in a blistering 42.77 to break the previous record of 43.38 set by former teammate Anthony Ervin in '03. Junior Stanford took second and third in the 100 yard freestyle as Ben Wildman-Tobriner (44.06) and Bobby O'Bryan (44.09) both touched in NCAA provisionally qualifying times.
Stanford stormed back to win the next event in record time as Markus Rogan turned in his second win of the afternoon in the 200 yard backstroke (1:41.01) in an NCAA qualifying time. Rogan held the previous pool record in this event with a time of 1:41.58, set in 2002. Cal swimmer Alex Lim's time of 1:41.27 also bettered the previous pool record as he finished second. Lim led most of the event until Rogan took over the lead on the last lap to claim victory. Teammate Hongzhe Sun placed third in 1:44.66.
"The meet was nothing I've seen before," said Rogan. "We seniors were nervous like we were little freshmen. The freshman took great responsibility and stepped up to the pressure that Cal brought to the meet.
"My 200 back race wasn't mine," he continued. "I had Peter Marshall's underwater kick, Hong Sun's turns, Shaun Phillip's endurance and Jayme Cramer's refuse-to-lose attitude. I think nobody could have done what they did without the team."
Frosh Shaun Phillips was also a multiple winner, taking the 500 yard freestyle in a time of 4:25.01 (NCAA provisional time). Sophomore Michael McLean finished second (4:28.11).
Golden Bear Louie Gagnet won the three-meter event (350.33) while freshman Cardinal Kevin McLean placed second (299.70).
In the last individual event of the meet, Cardinal junior Gary Marshall turned in a second place finish in the 200 yard breaststroke (1:57.71) and was edged by Cal's Caleb Rowe (1:57.67). Senior Michael Bruce was third (1:59.43).
In the final event of the meet, the 400 yard freestyle relay pool records again fell as the California relay team clocked in at 2:54.33 to better the previous record of 2:54.93 set in 2002 by Stanford. The Cardinal finished second in an NCAA qualifying time of 2:54.66 (Rogan, O'Bryan, Scott Ransenberg, Andrew Schnell) which also eclipse the previous pool record.
Stanford now prepares for the Pac-10 Championships, held March 4-6, in Long Beach, Calif.