Pittsburgh's Men's Swimmers Rank Among Nation's Best
11/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Pittsburgh's Men's Swimmers Rank Among Nation's Best
11/28/2000
Pittsburgh - In the most recent Swimming World NCAA swimming rankings, the University of Pittsburgh men's swimming team has nine individuals ranked among the nation's top 25 in 12 events, as well as four Panther relay teams.
Junior Steve Siler (Chicago, Ill./Westmont) currently has the nation's top time in the 200 back with a time of 1:44.57. His mark is a Pittsburgh record, an NCAA provisional qualifying time and is only .19 seconds from earning an automatic berth to the 2000 NCAA Championships. Siler additionally ranks 12th in the 100 back with a time of 49.45. Freshman Kenny Shelhorse (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus) is seventh nationally in the 200 back, posting a time of 1:48.15.
Max von Bodungen (Malmo, Sweden/Borgarskolan) is ranked in three different individual events. His highest ranking is eighth in the 200 fly with a time of 1:49.29. The junior is also ranked 10th in the 200 free (1:38.74) and 15th in the 100 free (45.25). However, von Bodungen's best overall time of the season in the 100 free was 45.06 in the first leg of the 400 free relay.
Mike Grube, Miah Heath, Eric Limkemann and Will Eden are each ranked in a pair of events. Grube (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) is ranked among the nation's top 10 in two events, including fourth in the 100 free (44.62) and seventh in the 50 free (20.34). The sophomore's time in the 50 free is only .01 seconds from being an NCAA provisional qualifier. Grube is additionally the only Panther to be on each of the nationally-ranked relay teams. Heath (Estes Park, Colo./Estes Park) also has two top 10 rankings. The junior is ranked ninth in the 100 free (45.06) and 10th in the 100 fly (49.12). Limkemann (New Haven, Ind./Woodlan) currently has the nation's ninth-best time in the 1,650 free with an NCAA provisional time of 15:33.90 and is 25th nationally in the 500 free with a time of 4:30.10. Eden (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral) is ranked in both the individual medley events, posting times of 1:51.16 in the 200 to rank 12th and 3:59.38 in the 400 to rank 25th.
Junior Michael Demos (McKeesport, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) joins Grube in the 50 free national rankings with a time 20.74 (25th), while freshman Randy Gertenbach (El Centro, Calif./Paradise Valley) is ranked 19th in the 200 breast (2:03.80).
In the relays, the Panthers are ranked sixth in the 400 medley (3:19.71), third in the 200 free (1:21.23), second in the 400 free (2:58.90) and second in the 800 free (6:37.69). The 400 medley relay team consists of Siler, Gertenbach, Heath and Grube. The 200 free relay team is Demos, Patrick Shedlock (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin), Heath and Grube. The 400 free relay team includes Grube, von Bodungen, Steve Webber (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) and Heath, while the 800 free relay team is made up of Webber, Siler, Grube and von Bodungen.
Pittsburgh is 5-1 overall and ranked 22nd in the most recent College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) coaches' poll, its highest ranking in school history. The Panthers will not compete again until Jan. 12, when they travel to Penn State. Pittsburgh's next home meet is Jan. 13, when it hosts West Virginia.
Swimming World NCAA Event Rankings
50 Free Mike Grube (7th, 20.34); Michael Demos (25th, 20.74) 100 Free Mike Grube (4th, 44.62); Miah Heath (9th, 45.06); Max von Bodungen (15th, 45.25) 200 Free Max von Bodungen (10th, 1:38.74) 500 Free Eric Limkemann (25th, 4:30.10) 1650 Free Eric Limkemann (9th, 15:33.90) 100 Back Steve Siler (12th, 49.45) 200 Back Steve Siler (1st, 1:47.57); Kenny Shelhorse (7th, 1:48.15) 200 Breast Randy Gertenbach (19th, 2:03.80) 100 Fly Miah Heath (10th, 49.12) 200 Fly Max von Bodungen (8th, 1:49.29) 200 IM Will Eden (12th, 1:51.16) 400 IM Will Eden (25th, 3:59.38)
400 Medley Relay Siler, Gertenbach, Heath, Grube (6th, 3:19.71) 200 Free Relay Demos, Shedlock, Heath, Grube (3rd, 1:21.23) 400 Free Relay Grube, von Bodungen, Webber, Heath (2nd, 2:58.90) 800 Free Relay Webber, Siler, Grube, von Bodungen (2nd, 6:37.69)