Two key tankers ailing

By Kristen Fidh

Daily Sports Writer

Two weeks of arduous training, even when spent in Hawaii, presented more of a toll on the Michigan men's swimming team than the expected fatigue.

While on the island, freshman Dan Ketchum pulled his shoulder muscle, leaving him tattered for the competition on Jan. 5 and 6 against Stanford and California.

After swimming near his personal best two weeks ago, sophomore Garrett Mangieri returned to Ann Arbor to find a friend's car buried in snow. Helping to push the vehicle out, Mangieri pulled a hip muscle, inhibiting him from practicing this past week.

Possibly with out Ketchum and Mangieri, the team's two top point-scorers, No. 9 Michigan (1-4) begins its Big Ten schedule this weekend with a dual meet against Penn State and Purdue.

"I'd say it is a 50-50 chance for either of them to compete," Michigan assistant coach Eric Namesnik said. "With those two guys out of the lineup, it is going to be extremely difficult for us. It isn't impossible to win without them - it just means that we are going to have to have a couple other guys step up."

Friday's competition will be a non-scoring matchup with No. 23 Penn State. Lengths not raced during structured dual meets, only in the NCAA tournament - such as the 1650-meter freestyle - will be swam as a practice for the national competition.

Saturday, Purdue will join the Wolverines and Nittany Lions in the water for a competition that has the potential of making or breaking Michigan's confidence.

"We swim the top teams in the country, and we are hoping that the Big Ten competitions will come a little bit easier so we can get back into our comfort zone," Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek said. "Now with these two having unexpected injuries, we are really going to have to work as a team to pull this one off."

Michigan's major downfall this season, as it has been in recent years, is the performance of its relays. Though the medley relay of Jason Mallory, Josh Hack, Paul Ely and Mike Porth raced its season's best time against Stanford, all the quartets must pull their energies together.

"It's really a mental thing for the relays," Namesnik said. "At one point in time, we haven't had all four guys firing on all four cylinders, and to have a good relay we need to have all four individuals firing together and doing well together."

Neither of Michigan's conference foes have an exceptionally talented roster. Unlike the Wolverines, among whom are Olympic bronze-medal winner Chris Thompson and All Americans Scott Werner and Tim Siciliano, Penn State and Purdue do not have as much ability to compete at the NCAA level, forcing them to focus on the Big Ten competition.

With the possible absense of Mangieri and Ketchum, Michigan will face even more of a challenge than usual against midwestern rivals this weekend. The Wolverines could very well further insure its losing record.

But the challenge may also be ground for energizing mid-level swimmers that have yet to experience racing in the limelight.

"Our two top dogs are out, so someone is going to have to rise above," Urbanchek said. "For that reason, I am excited to have this dual meet - so we can see who can step it up."