March 1, 2004

EVANSTON, Ill. - After one of the most dominant seasons in Northwestern history, freshman Matt Grevers has been named Co-Big Ten Swimmer of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and first-team All-Big Ten. Joining Grevers on the All-Big Ten team are classmate Mike Alexandrov and seniors Tony Swanson and Mark Hamming.

Grevers picked up four total gold medals in this weekend's Big Ten Championship, winning the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke individual events as well as a gold in Northwestern's record-breaking 400 medley relay team.

Grevers broke the Big Ten, Big Ten Championship, pool and Northwestern school record in the 100 back with his blazing time of 46.68. He established a new Big Ten Championship record in the 50 free when he swam a 19.44 in the prelim session. He becomes the first Wildcat to garner either Swimmer of the Year, or Freshman of the Year honors in school history.

With four first-team All-Big Ten selections, Northwestern sets a new school mark. The most swimmers NU had ever put on the first team before this season was two in 2002. One of those two swimmers was Swanson, who regained his championship form of two seasons ago in the Big Ten Championship meet.

Swanson broke a Big Ten Championship meet record in the 100-yard butterfly, touching the wall in 46.89 to claim a gold medal for the 'Cats. He was the 2002 Big Ten Swimmer of the Championship after leading NU to a fourth-place finish.

Mark Hamming posted a solid championship meet for the Wildcats, picking up two top-five finishes in individual events as well as swimming for the Wildcats' 400 medley relay team. Alexandrov, meanwhile, qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 400 IM and placed second in the 100-breaststoke.

Northwestern finished third in the Big Ten Championships, their best finish since 1944, when the Wildcats placed second. At least eight NU swimmers will appear in the NCAA Championships in Long Island, N.Y. and more could be invited based on their provisional times.

2004 Big Ten Championships-- By the numbers
Third place team finish
Matt Grevers Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Co-Big Ten Swimmer of the Year
Four Individual Big Ten Championships --Matt Grevers (50 free, 100 free and 100 back) and Tony Swanson (100 breast) and one Big Ten relay championship --400 Medley Relay, the second fastest ever at the Big Ten Championship
Two Big Ten Records
Six Big Ten Championship Records
18 School Records
10 Pool Records
48 Individual & Relays Best Times
37 Northwestern All-Time Top Times
Four First Team All-Big Ten Selections: Tony Swanson, Matt Grevers, Mike Alexandrov, Mark Hamming.
Nine Automatic "A" NCAA Time Standards & 16 Consideration "B" Time Standards.

* Northwestern's third-place finish is highest since 1944 when the 'Cats finished second.
* Northwestern's 478 points is exactly 100 points more than they earned last year when they took fourth place with 378.