It would have been hard for anybody on the men’s swimming and diving squads to dream up a more bizarre finish to Saturday’s victory at Seton Hall.

Nobody would have predicted that the team’s first win since Oct. 20 would come in large part because of the 200-yard breaststroking efforts of a senior freestyler swimming the event in college for the first time and a sophomore diver who had never swam it. Anywhere. Ever.

Coach Lou Walker’s decision to include senior Chris Miller and sophomore diver Ricky Rodriguez in the 200-yard breaststroke materialized only minutes before the event but paid off in spades.

The unlikely help propelled the Orangemen (3-5) to a 135-97 victory over the Pirates. The Orangewomen (5-3) won, 136-78.

‘It was really weird,’ said Miller, who 20 minutes before the event sat poolside in shorts and a T-shirt, casually chatting with teammates. ‘Next thing I know, I am in the breaststroke. It was ridiculous.’

In addition to Miller and Rodriguez, Walker also sent senior breaststroke specialist Glenn Bizewski into the event. Bizewski finished third, Miller fourth and Rodriguez sixth. After procedure violations disqualified the Seton Hall swimmers, however, the three Orangemen occupied the event’s medal podium.

Miller, one of the team’s less-celebrated members, continues to plug holes. It is a role he has mastered this season.

Throughout his three-year career — he did not swim his junior year — Miller has distinguished himself not in any one event but for swimming everything. Despite that, he had never lined up for the 200-yard breaststroke.

Saturday, in the second-to-last meet of his career, his number was called. Still, the meet was close, and Miller enjoyed some preparation time. There is a 15-minute break between the conclusion of the 500-yard freestyle — when Walker asked Miller — and the 200-yard breaststroke.

Rodriguez, who placed second in both the one- and three-meter dives, did not have that luxury. Walker approached him about the 200-yard breaststroke during the break, after Rodriguez had finished his dives, he said.

‘I told him straight up, ‘I’ll do it, but it isn’t going to be fast,’ “ Rodriguez said. ‘He told me, ‘Just do not (disqualify). Make sure you finish.’ I swam breaststroke in high school, but only in a relay and for the 100-yard. I could have done the 100 without too much trouble, but the 200? I am just glad I finished.

“I am just glad I didn’t die.’

To be certain, Rodriguez did not. Rather, his versatility helped end the Orangemen’s three-month losing streak, which can help set the tone for the postseason.

Lindsey Clark helped the Orangewomen to victory, winning two distance freestyle events in the absence of roommate Ashley Danowski, the team’s top distance swimmer who was sick with pneumonia.

‘I definitely think it was important to end the season on a good note,’ said Meg Daney, who won three events against Seton Hall. ‘It is good for the morale as you get ready for the Big East Championships (Feb 21-23).’

-30-

Published on February 4, 2002 at 12:00 pm