SMU Wins Fourth Straight NIC Championship
Feb 28 | Men's Swimming & Diving
For the fourth consecutive year, the SMU men's swimming & diving team has captured the National Independent Conference Championship in Rochester, Mich. at the Oakland University Aquatic Center. SMU won the 2004 NIC Championship Saturday with a total of 903 points. Hawaii finished in second place with 876 points over the four day competition.
Highlighting the event Saturday was sophomore SMU diver Philip Griffin who was named NIC Diver of the Year after capturing the one-meter and three-meter competition at the championship meet. Diving coach Jim Stillson was named the NIC Diving Coach of the Year as well for the Ponies.
On Saturday, SMU posted two more conference champion showings to cap off the stellar week of performances. Junior Eric Hadley won the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:46.22. Mustang teammate Ian Clark finished runner-up to Hadley with a time of 1:47.21 in the 200 back event. JUCO transfer Camilo Becerra, who won both the 50 free and 100 fly earlier in the week, finished runner-up in the 100 free with a time of 43.92.
Diver Beau Sydes finished second in the men's platform competition with a final score of 411.65 in the event. The Mustangs finished the night in fine fashion, as Becerra, Hadley, Per Nylin and Justin Stephenson won the 400 free relay with a time of 2:57.59.
SMU returns to action Mar. 4-7 when it travels to Austin, Texas to compete in the All American SC Championship.
