Men look to challenge for titles

Beginning today, the Michigan men's swimming and diving team - one of the most illustrious programs in NCAA history - will be at looking to challenge for a national title at the 76th NCAA championships in Indianapolis.

The Wolverines have won an NCAA- record 11 national titles in swimming, not including the seven Michigan won before swimming officially became an NCAA sanctioned event in 1937.

Though the Wolverines probably won't be bringing home a 1999 NCAA championship banner to the newly remodeled Canham Natatorium this weekend, coach Jon Urbanchek has already deemed the season a success.

"If we get eight to ten people to the NCAA meet, the 'Big Dance', the season will be a success," Urbanchek said.

Eight Wolverines will be at the NCAAs in Indianapolis this weekend: seniors Tom Malchow and Brett Wilmot, juniors Mike McWha and Josh Trexler, sophomores Chris Thompson and Scott Werner, and freshmen Jeff Hopwood and Tim Siciliano.

KELLY MCKINNELL/Daily Jeff Hopwood has the potential to make some serious waves at the NCAA Championships, which start today in Indianapolis.

Stanford is favored to bring home another NCAA title, unless upstart Auburn can knock them off.

But these eight Wolverines have the potential to make some serious waves - especially returning All-Americans Malchow and Thompson.

Both have legitimate shots to add to Michigan's 143 individual national titles. Malchow, the 1996 Olympic silver-medalist in the 200-meter butterfly, could very well bring home the NCAA title in the 200-yard fly this weekend. Thompson, the NCAA's third-place finisher in the 500 freestyle in 1998, holds the nation's fastest times in both of his events this weekend, the 500 and 1,650 free.

Malchow is seeded third in the 200 fly. Urbanchek said the tall Malchow is much better in the long-course Olympic pool than in the collegiate short-course pool, but he is still a serious threat to take on anyone in the nation.

"He has a definite shot to win it," Urbanchek said. "He's not as good in short-course, but you never know. I hope he does it, he deserves to win it."

As for Michigan's youngsters, Hopwood and Siciliano, the potential is there to make a large impact. In fact, Siciliano is seeded first in the 400 individual medley.

03-25-99