Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
MVC Championships
Salukis Win 2002 Missouir Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championship
02/23/2002 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 23, 2002
CARBONDALE, Ill. - This year it didn't have to come down to one race as a dominating team performance by the men's swimming and diving team resulted in a Missouri Valley Conference Championship the third and last day of the championship at Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium. The men won their sixth title in the eight years and the first since the 1999 championships.
The men's team held off a late charge by defending champion Southwest Missouri and eventually won 940.5-912, followed by Evansville (570), Northern Iowa (444) and Bradley (236.5).
"The past two years having lost by a combination of 30 points, there is know doubt in my mind that this is was the sweetest victory I've had here at SIU in 15 years. I do not want to say that this is the best group we ever had, but I have never witnessed a better fought, harder fought, more determined group than the one I just witnessed this weekend," commented men's swimming and diving head coach Rick Walker.
The men's team was led by a record breaking performance by freshman Brent Menghini in the 200 butterfly. His time of 1:48.71 broke the conference championship mark of 1:49.41 set by former Saluki Chris Pelant in 1994.
Senior Chrysanthos Papachrysanthou ended his Saluki career with a victory in the 100 freestyle (45.36) and a third place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:06.50) with fellow senior Jeremiah Cortez and sophomores Matt Glowacki and Edoardo Daelli. Senior Corne Prozesky added his third straight conference title in the 200 breastroke, winning the event with a time of 2:03.33.
After the meet Saluki head coaches for both the men and the women were selected as 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Coaches of the Year for their teams performances. For Coach Walker it is the fourth time he has been awarded this honor. Coach Goelz won his second straight award.
"That's a reflection on them, that is not my job, I don't think there really is a coach of the year, there are a lot of coaches who work their rear ends off and I think that's a reflection of the athletes. For that award I thank the athletes, I would not have gotten that award if they would not have done the job they did," said Walker.
MEET NOTES: Bradley University Head Coach Jane Austin was awarded co-coach of the year by a unanimous vote by her colleagues, this was the last swim meet for the Bradley swimming and diving program...The Evansville men's 400 freestyle relay team broke the conference record with a time of 3:00.71, besting the 200 SIU time of 3:00.83...Josh Wegrzyn of Southwest Missouri set a new conference record time in the 200 backstroke (1:46.58), breaking the record he previously held.
