University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
SEC Championships
Muscari Wraps Up SEC Career with Bronze Finish
February 19, 2010 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 19, 2010
Drew Rutherford
UTsports.com
ATHENS, Ga.--In practice, Michael Muscari took a few wipeouts. But when it counted, the Morristown, Tenn., native nailed the dive and took home a third place finish in the last event of his career as an SEC diver--the platform.
Muscari captured a bronze medal with a career-best 359.90 mark.
"Honestly, I am ecstatic," Muscari said. "Before that last dive I was extremely nervous, but I told myself that I was just going to go for it. I was so blessed that I landed it like I did"
"Michael Muscari was phenomenal today," diving coach Dave Parrington said. "His last dive was very difficult and it's been tough in practice but he pulled it off the best he has ever done."
Tennessee entered the third day of competition at the SEC championships with a slate of events that showcased its strengths. The Vols took advantage moving up one spot to fourth in the standings.
"After a very slow start, this young team is showing signs of understanding what the SEC championships are all about--racing," head coach John Trembley said. "We had a great day of digging deep and competing with heart."
Junior Brad Craig raced to a bronze finish in the 100 breaststroke behind a career-best 53.13 mark. Mattias Kahlin placed eighth in the final with a 54.72 time.
Ricky Henahan earned the Vols' third bronze finish on the day in the 100 backstroke behind a 46.70 mark.
In the final event of day three, Tennessee made it to the podium for the fourth time in the 400 medley relay. Henahan, Craig, Michael DeRocco and Ryan Harrison swam to a close third-place finish with a 3:09.17 B-cut time.
Heading into day four, Auburn leads the field with 557 points. Florida is in second (544); Georgia is third (401); Tennessee is fourth (315.5) and fifth through eighth belongs to Alabama (246), Kentucky (242), LSU (203.5) and South Carolina (140), respectively.
"It was good to see this group gel and stand tall today," Trembley said. "We have more to do tomorrow."
Other Vols scoring on day three included junior Patrick Beasley in the 400 I.M. Beasley finished 16th at 3:55.41.
DeRocco took fifth in the 100 butterfly with a 46.60 time. Freshman Giles Smith won the consolation final in impressive style with a 47.06 mark.
Harrison scored at fifth place in the 200 freestyle at 1:35.38. That mark is his career-best and an NCAA B-cut.
In the 100 backstroke, sophomore Anders Storvik took 13th place with a B-cut 48.96 time.
Sophomore Ryan Helms took eighth place at 296.15 while freshman Jordan Mauney placed 10th in the platform diving event with a 292.35 score. Knoxville, Tenn., native Sean Letsinger scored in 13th with a career-best 275.25.
The 2010 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships will conclude Saturday with the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay.
For full coverage of the SEC championships, log onto UTsports.com.
Players Mentioned
