The Milan News-Leader
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Big Red swimmers fall to Tecumseh
Heikka still finds positives following111-75 loss, including state cuts on horizon
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 25, 2007
Milan boys' swimming coach Dan Heikka expected his team to lose to a powerful Tecumseh squad in their dual meet in Milan Jan. 16.
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But he had hoped the final tally might have been closer than the final score of Tecumseh, 111 and Milan, 75.
"We knew going in that Tecumseh is a strong team," he said. "But we would have liked to have lost by less. We need to just do a little better job … They were just ahead of us in several races and that made a big difference."
Despite the lopsided scoreline, there were a number of performances that Heikka was pleased with.
Among those were the swims from sophomore Tim Hochradel, who came within .29 of a state cut in the 200-yard individual medley by swimming 2:12.68, which was good for third place. Hochradel also finished second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:08.87 and joined Jason Schroeder, Ian Pendleton and Ryan Bordine on the first-place Milan 400 freestyle relay team (3:37.03).
Junior Ian Pendleton also had a strong meet, winning the 200 freestyle in 1:53.25 (less than 1.5 seconds off of the state qualifying time) and anchoring the 200 freestyle relay (along with Schroeder, Bordine and Kray Cornelison) that finished in 1:34.36, only .17 off the state cut and good for second place.
Heikka hopes to have that relay cut made within the Big Reds' next few meets.
"It's just a matter of having everybody swim fast at the same time," he said. "We need to put it all together and get over that hump."
Bordine, as expected, continued his excellent senior season by winning the 50 freestyle (22.32) and 100 freestyle (49.48), both in state cut time.
But not all of the good performances came from the Big Reds' established swimmers. David Schwartz (lifetime bests in the 500 freestyle and swimming in the 400 freestyle relay "B" team), Jeremy Robison (also on the 400 "B" team and fifth in the 100 breaststroke) and newly-eligible transfer Justin Beaudrie (fifth in the 200 individual medley, fourth in the 500 freestyle), among others, each turned in solid times and personal bests.
"A lot of our new guys swam really well for us," Heikka said. "We're real excited. They're really going to help us."
Another positive was the performance of diver Cody Schmitt, who took first with a score of 191.10. Milan's Cody Baron and Kyle Baron finished third and fourth, respectively.
Schmitt is looking to qualify for the state meet for the first time after finishing 13th at the regional competition each of the last two years. The top 12 divers advance, and the first-place result in Tecumseh is more evidence that Schmitt is on course to join those 12 this season.
"My impression is that he's making the right strides and doing the right things.
"He stands a good chance," Heikka said.
Milan's next meet will come Tuesday on the road at old Southeastern Conference rival Saline.
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