COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State opened its 2009-10 dual meet season with a 145-101 victory over Kenyon College Friday at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Ohio State was led by multiple-event winners Elliott Keefer, Andrew Elliott and Mark Neiman.
Bill Wadley, who opened his 21st season as Ohio State coach with his 202nd career dual meet victory, said his squad prepared for the meet with its team theme of "race your best."
"Race your teammates, race against your best time, don't let off and practice race strategy," Wadley said. "I wanted our guys to find out where the edge of their racing ability is and to test themselves. And I felt they did a nice job of racing each other and competing tonight."
It seemed as if every Buckeye was race-ready Friday. The team opened with six wins before the first break to build a 76-20 advantage. Neiman (1000 free), George Markovic (200 free), Elliott (100 back), Keefer (100 breaststroke), Austin Mudd (200 fly) and freshman Zach Holmes (50 free) were the victorious Buckeyes early. Elliott's time of 48.19 in the 100 back was an NCAA "B" qualifying time, the first of the season for the team.
Freshman Tim Phillips won the 100 freestyle to start the second half of the meet before Elliott added to his productive first night with a win in the 200 backstroke.
"Elliott had some great swims," Wadley said. "He is in control of his races. He owns his strategy and because of that he owns his races. He is a very confident swimmer and he is improving in an exciting direction."
Keefer, a points scorer in both breaststroke events last year for the Buckeyes at the Big Ten championships, then followed his earlier win with a win in the 200 breaststroke.
"Keefer is on a great path," Wadley said.
Neiman, a senior and a huge Philadelphia Phillies fan from Cherry Hill, N.J., added to his 1000 win with a win in the 500 freestyle.
"You can't argue with Mark Neiman," Wadley said. "He just keeps winning races."
Other victorious Buckeyes were Lincoln Fahrbach (100 butterfly), Niksa Roki (200 IM) and members of both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Kenyon, virtually always the Division III national champion, was missing a handful of swimmers due to seasonal illness.
The Buckeyes return to action Nov. 13. Half of the team will compete against Denison at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at 5 p.m. and half will compete at Miami in another 5 p.m. start.
Men's Swimming
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
Columbus, Ohio
McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
Team Scores: 1. Ohio State 145; 2. Kenyon 101
Ohio State Event Winners: 200 medley relay - Elliott, Keefer, Phillips, Bretscher (1:30.47); 1000 freestyle - Neiman (9:18.29); 200 freestyle - Markovic (1:40.84); 100 backstroke - Elliott (48.19); 100 breaststroke - Keefer (56.40); 200 butterfly - Mudd (1:52.15); 50 freestyle - Holmes (21.26); 100 freestyle - Phillips (46.25); 200 backstroke - Elliott (1:47.97); 200 breaststroke - Keefer (2:01.89) ; 500 freestyle - Neiman (4:34.17); 100 butterfly - Fahrbach (49.99); 200 IM - Roki (1:51.49); 400 freestyle relay - Phillips, Fahrbach, Sievers, Markovic (3:06.26).
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