Records could fall as Blue hosts Big Ten Championship

By Brian Galvin

Daily Sports Writer

By the fateful hand of the Big Ten Conference's scheduling department, the Michigan men's swimming and diving team has already achieved its top goal for this season.

"Bring it back" is the official slogan for the seventh-ranked Wolverines this year, referring to the Big Ten Championship trophy they lost to Penn State last season. The trophy is back in Ann Arbor this weekend - it will be given to the winner of the Big Ten Championships at Canham Natatorium.

But the Wolverines want more. Technically the trophy is back, but they'll have to beat four top 25 teams if it is going to stay. And as Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek knows, the trophy he covets is up for grabs.

"Last year 25 points separated Michigan, Penn State and Minnesota," Urbanchek said of the small margin for error Michigan faces.

We've seen this scenario before - it happened just four years ago: In an Olympic year, a highly-ranked Michigan team featuring several Olympic hopefuls hosted the Big Ten Championship.

Interestingly, Michigan lost the conference meet to Minnesota. With the Big Ten meet coming just three weeks before the Olympic Trials, Urbanchek didn't have the luxury of resting his swimmers for the smaller-by-comparison Big Ten meet.

Consequently, Michigan basically conceded the trophy to the Gophers.

"Twelve kids didn't rest or shave for that meet," Urbanchek said. "Luckily, this year there's no conflict."

With the Olympic Trials scheduled for August, Urbanchek will taper and shave all but two swimmers for this weekend's championships.

Those two swimmers are defending Big Ten swimmer of the year Chris Thompson and Tim Siciliano, last year's Big Ten co-freshman of the year (along with teammate Jeff Hopwood).

"They should be able to win their events (regardless)," Urbanchek said. "They're heads and shoulders above the rest."

Even though Michigan features some of the world's best individual swimmers, Urbanchek knows it will take strong performances from all 24 Wolverines entered in the meet to win.

"Depth is what wins Big Ten Championships," Urbanchek said. "It's a meet designed for the masses."

As a result, Urbanchek is looking for breakthrough swims from its younger and lesser known athletes, such as freshman Tony Kurth.

"Tony is swimming four relays and three events," Urbanchek said. "That's 10 swims in three days as hard as he can go."

The Wolverines will be inspired by the 30 Big Ten championship banners already hanging above the Canham pool. More importantly, they hope their opponents will be intimidated by the Michigan tradition.

"I hope they'll (soil) their pants," Urbanchek said. "I hope home court is worth 50 points for us."

Defending a winning tradition at home is a priority for the Wolverines. With an accomplished field swimming at Canham all weekend, there is a potential for pool records to fall.

"We're going to see some good swimming," Urbanchek said. "But I think if any records are broken, it will be Michigan breaking them."

JOANNA PAINE/Daily

Josh Trexler is hungry enough to grab the Big Ten Championship out of the Nittany Lion's mouth.