Feb. 6, 2004
Los Angeles, Calif. - The nationally-ranked Stanford men's swimming team competed in a non-scoring meet against NOVA Aquatics as a tune-up to their conference match up with USC on Saturday.
The opening race, the 200 yard medley relay, came down to the last touch on the wall with Stanford taking the first event by less than half a second. The relay team of Peter Marshall, Michael Bruce, Jayme Cramer and Ben Wildman-Tobriner turned in the winning time of 1:29.02. The NOVA men finished second and third.
With Stanford taking wins in the next two events (1000 yard freestyle - Andy Grant - 9:11.22 and the 200 yard freestyle - Jayme Cramer - 1:36.38), the NOVA team responded with two wins of their own in the next two contested events.
Jason Lezak (20.42) led a 1-2 sweep of the 50 yard freestyle, with Greg Busse taking second (20.43). Cardinal Peter Marshall took third in a time of 20.57. NOVA's Dan Shevchick swam away with a nearly 5 second victory in the 400 yard IM (3:55.08), followed by Stanford's Shaun Phillips (3:59.91) and Keenan Newman (4:00.51).
The Stanford team got back on the board with a victory in the 100 yard butterfly (Matt McDonald - 48.43), with NOVA's Derya Buyukuncu (49.86) turning in a second place swim to split the Stanford fly specialists. Cardinal Scott Ransenberg placed third, clocking in at 50.07. Joe Novak outtouched Stanford's Bobby O'Bryan (50.93), giving the NOVA team a 2-4 finish.
In the next event a tired Jason Lezak showed the effects of three weeks of traveling and competing as he faded out of a sure win in the 100 yard freestyle. NOVA teammate, Gabe Woodward capped off an outstanding finish to win the event (44.98) to again put pressure on the Cardinal to catch another victory. Ben Wildman-Tobriner finished second, touching the wall in 45.14, followed by teammate Andrew Schnell (45.61).
In the 100 yard backstroke - a specialty of the Stanford team for nearly two decades, the Cardinal took a one-two sweep with Markus Rogan taking first (47.30) and 2003 NCAA Champion, Peter Marshall taking second with a 47.37. Close behind in third was NOVA swimmer and Olympic Gold Medalist Lenny Krayzelburg (47.55).
Stanford took the next event, the 500 yard freestyle with Sean Phillips stroking to a 4:29.15 finish. Mike McLean took second place with a time of 4:33.62 just ahead of NOVA's Luca Azevedo who touched with a time of 4:34.18. NOVA's Scott Spansail finished strong - outdueling Stanford's Eric Dilulio with times of 4:39.15 to 4:41.31, respectively.
In the final individual event of the meet, NOVA's Dave Denniston won the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 54.44 to Stanford's Gary Marshall outlasting NOVA's Marco Gonzalez, 56.11 to 56.43. Michael Bruce was fourth (57.88)
The final relay - 400 yard freestyle relay - saw the NOVA's come away victoriously with an outstanding finish by 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, Jason Lezak. Stanford took second with the relay team of Scott Ransenberg, Bobby O'Bryan, Andy Grant and Andrew Schnell (3:04.99).