Tennessee Wins Dallas Morning News Classic; Gilliam Named Swimmer of Meet

1/21/2001

The third-ranked Tennessee swimming and diving team won the 19th annual Dallas Morning News Classic on Saturday as UT won three of nine events to close out the two-day contest. The Volunteers piled up 344 points on the weekend to top host Southern Methodist who finished second with 323.5 points. Minnesota finished third (284) while Florida (265), Nebraska (230) and Auburn (227.5) rounded out the six team field.

The Volunteers won eight of 18 events on the weekend to claim their second Dallas Morning News Classic Championship. The Vols also won in 1997. This is the second invitational meet victory in as many tries for the Vols who also won the Princeton Invitational in December.

Tennessee head coach John Trembley was happy with his team, saying, "We were very pleased with the way the guys raced tonight. We cut down on our mistakes and looked more like a strong championship team. We do have more fine-tuning to do before SEC Championships."

UT senior co-captain Michael Gilliam was named as the swimmer of the meet. On Saturday Gilliam won the 100 freestyle with a time of 44.27 and also contributed to the 200 freestyle relay victory and the second-place 400 freestyle relay team. Gilliam won the 100 backstroke on Friday and also served on the winning 400 medley relay and won the consolation finals of the 50 freestyle.

"That is a great honor for Michael as he joins a list of Olympians and NCAA Champions in that honor," said Trembley.

Brett Tannhauser continued an impressive month with a victory in the 500 freestyle in a time of 4:28.11. Teammate Greg Simpson won the consolation heat of that event. The Volunteers also swept the 100 freestyle with Gilliam winning the championship final and Chris Hussey winning the consolation final in a time of 44.37 that would have been good for second-place in the championship final.

The Vols closed out the evening with a victory in the 200 freestyle relay as Hussey, Simpson, Gilliam and Matt Parrish combined for a time of 1:21.48.

The Vols return to action on Saturday, Jan. 27, as the squad closes out the home portion of its dual-meet schedule as they play host to Louisville at the Student Aquatic Center at 2 p.m. Tennessee's nine seniors will be honored prior to the meet.

Dallas Morning News Classic
Final Team Scores
1. TENNESSEE 344
2. Southern Methodist 323.5
3. Minnesota 284
4. Florida 265
5. Nebraska 230
6. Auburn 227.5

400 Freestyle Relay
1. Southern Methodist	?	2:59.63
2. Tennessee	?	3:00.02
(Gilliam, McDonnell, Shapiro, Hussey)
3. Minnesota	?	3:03.87
500 Freestyle
1. Brett Tannhauser	Tennessee	4:28.11
2. Justin Mortimer	Minnesota	4:28.38
3. Chris Epp	SMU	4:29.80
7. Greg Simpson	Tennessee	4:29.76
200 Backstroke
1. Bart Wickard	SMU	1:47.59
2. Scott Talbot	Auburn	1:47.61
3. Alex Massura	Minnesota	1:49.37
5. Greg Simpson	Tennessee	1:52.29
9. Matt Parrish	Tennessee	1:49.73
200 Breaststroke
1. Jeff Hackler	Minnesota	2:00.27
2. Justin Caron	Auburn	2:00.29
3. Andrew Bree	Tennessee	2:00.73
8. Jeremy McDonnell	Tennessee	2:03.48
Three-Meter Diving
1. Dan Croaston	Minnesota	361.75
2. Hank Richardson	Florida	334.35
3. Shannon Roy	Tennessee	307.00
100 Freestyle
1. Michael Gilliam	Tennessee	44.27
2. Carlos Jayme	Florida	44.90
3. Brandon Jernigan	SMU	45.29
7. Chris Hussey	Tennessee	44.37
200 Butterfly
1. Greg Reeves	Florida	1:47.62
2. Joel Shapiro	Tennessee	1:48.99
3. Chris Epp	SMU	1:50.74
8. Matt Parrish	Tennessee	1:51.86
200 Individual Medley
1. Michael Jacobsson	SMU	1:48.38
2. Jeremy McDonnell	Tennessee	1:51.89
3. Kevin Clements	Auburn	1:52.07
7. Andrew Bree	Tennessee	1:51.04
200 Freestyle Relay
1. Tennessee	?	1:21.48
(Hussey, Simpson, Gilliam, Parrish)
2. Southern Methodist	?	1:21.76
3. Florida	?	1:24.18

University of Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee Wins Dallas Morning News Classic; Gilliam Named Swimmer of Meet