SMU Men's Swimming and Diving Finishes 14th at NCAAs

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SMU Men's Swimming and Diving Finishes 14th at NCAAs
Mustangs Achieve Their Goal of Top-15

SEATTLE, Wash. (SMU)--The SMU men's swimming and diving team finished the final day of the 85th Annual NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships in 14th place, achieving the team's goal of a top-15 finish.

The 400 free relay's 10th place finish capped off a strong performance by the Mustangs. Thomas Fadnes, Shane Milu, Luka Vrtovec and Nate Clark combined for a time of 2:55.14 in the finals. The squad had set a season-fastest time of 2:54.60 in the prelims.

"We knew going into the relay that we needed to finish second in our heat in order to beat Virginia," said head coach Eddie Sinnott. "We did what we needed to do. It seems like there's always something at stake in the last event and we know what we need to do."

The Mustangs also competed in the 200 back and 100 free events. Pontus Renholm swam a career-fastest time in the 200 back. Renholm touched the wall at 1:45.10, breaking his previous mark by 26 one-hundredths of a second.

Vrtovec swam the 100 free in 43.69, just eight one-hundredths of a second off his season-fastest time.

SMU finished in 14th place with 71 points.

"We accomplished the task we set out to accomplish," said Sinnott. "It was a fun meet and we finished 14th, so we're happy. Can't complain. We swam a number of bests over the last three days, which is really hard to do at a meet like this. I'm very happy with what we've accomplished. It's the cherry on top of a great season."

2008 All-Americans
Pontus Renholm (200 medley relay)
Alex Hetland (200 medley relay, 100 breast)
Luka Vrtovec (200 medley relay, 400 free relay)
Thomas Fadnes (200 medley relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay)
Nate Clark (400 free relay, 800 free relay)
Shane Milu (400 free relay, 800 free relay)
Maverick Smalley (800 free relay)

[Water Pony]

Daily Campus article on breaking into the Top 15

http://media.www.smudailycampus.com/med ... ailedition

Thanks to the seniors for a great four years!

" . . . Mustangs will be forced to part ways with valuable seniors Hetland, Milu and Brett Denham. Milu and Denham walked on to the team."