Swimmers at the Princeton Invitational

For the meet, seniors Michael Gilliam and Chris Hussey headlined a long list of impressive performances as both set pool records with their wins in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle, respectively. The pair was also a part of all four relay wins that also set pool records. Multiple event winners for UT included Greg Simpson (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 00 backstroke), Gilliam (100 backstroke and 100 freestyle), Joel Shapiro (100 and 200 butterfly) and Jeremy McDonnell (100 and 200 breaststroke).

On Sunday, Brett Tannhauser opened the session with a victory in the 1650 freestyle by finishing the race in a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 15:25.34. Senior teammate Steve Cromer finished third with a time of 15:34.43, just missing the qualifying mark. Simpson finished ninth while freshman Evan Nylander was 13th in the event.

Simpson, no doubt tired from a ninth-place finish in the 1650 free minutes earlier, managed to win the 200 backstroke in a time of 1:47.92. UT junior Matt Parrish finished seventh in the event and sophmore Michael Gross was tenth.

Tennessee swept the top two spots in the 100 freestyle as Gilliam finished first with a season-best time of 44.01, just .04 off the pool record, and Hussey reached the wall in a time of 44.82. Both times provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championships. Vol seniors Brent Owen and Lance Asti finished 5th and 6th, respectively, while mile-winner Tannhauser came in 15th.

Another one-two finish followed in the 100 breaststroke as McDonnell reached the wall in a season-best time of 2:03.79. Sophomore Ben Brink finished second with a time of 2:04.11, also a season-best.

Shapiro kept the momentum in UT's favor with a win in the 200 butterfly. The senior reached the wall in a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:47.51. Senior Zane DeWitz finished fourth in the event and was followed by freshman Jamie Graves in fifth, sophomore Jason Baxter in seventh and Parrish in 14th.

The Volunteers ended the meet in exemplary fashion by claiming the top two spots in the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet of Gilliam, Hussey, Owen and Asti took first place with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 2:57.16. The second Vol foursome to touch the wall included McDonnell, Tannhauser, Simpson and Parrish.