The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/106890
position as athletes to affect the community positively. Last year, they won the Rachel Townsend Award, which is given to a team that serves the community at a very high level, and they continue to do that. "And we also wanted to be balanced in our attack in the water, from sprinters all the way to milers. We're right there right now. For us to be in the fight for a top-three spot at the NCAA Championships, I think that's at the top of what we can do. I think we're right there right now." After taking fifth at last year's NCAA Championships, Michigan lost seniors Dan Madwed and Dane Vanderkaay, who were reliable scorers. But even so, the returning swimmers started to get excited about the next season before they even toweled off. "I knew we would be a contender this year," senior distance swimmer Ryan Feeley said. "We weren't losing that many points and we could come back even stronger next year. I am just glad this is my senior year and I can help lead these guys to new heights. "Mike recruited me on the principle that we were building a national championship-contending team. That was something I wanted to be a part of, a culture that embraced winning and the camaraderie it took to get to that level." Through Jan. 21, the Wolverines had not lost a dual meet, beating Wisconsin (172.5‑115.5), Minnesota (170‑124), Texas (194‑106), Indiana (223‑77), Eastern Michigan (196‑133) and Purdue (153‑90). And several swimmers have already outpaced Bottom's expectations. "I have been pleasantly surprised that we've been able to perform to the level I had hoped," Bottom said. "I have high standards going into a meet, and usually I'm disappointed. Even when we win, sometimes I'm disappointed." He pointed to junior freestyle specialist Michael Wynalda, senior butterfly/freestyle swimmer Sean Fletcher, senior backstroker Miguel Ortiz and sophomore Bruno Ortiz as swimmers that have made huge strides this year. For instance, Bruno has set career bests in five different events this season: the 50-yard freestyle (19.91), the 100-yard freestyle (43.44), the 100yard butterfly (47.49), the 100-yard breaststroke (52.72) and the 200-yard individual medley (1:52.55). "You look at them, and they're coming from places where they had to battle their first couple of years, academically and with their time-management skills," Bottom said. "And all of them are very successful now. They're doing great, academically and in the pool. "Those are the standouts, the guys who have made the improvements and gotten better." The Wolverines are also getting strong performances out of new swimmers. Zack Turk, who is a fifthyear senior transfer from Kenyon College, has stepped in and become a reliable sprinter for the end of the Wolverines' relay teams. Freshman Peter Brumm won his first-ever collegiate swim, the 200yard freestyle (1:38.75) in the seasonopening win over Wisconsin.