Michigan State University

This years' 2000 Big Ten Water Polo Championships was a memorable one for Michigan State University. After placing 3rd in 1998 and 2nd in 1999, MSU was determined to win it all for the first time since 1993. Being placed 3rd going into the Big Ten tournament the Spartans had a lot of tough teams ahead of them. They started the tournament against a tough Ohio State team. In the end the Spartans won with a comfortable lead. The first game for the Spartans on Saturday was Wisconsin and once again MSU came out on top in the the end.

After these two games the men learned how to work together in such a long pool (30 meters) and were pumped up going into their second game on Saturday, second ranked Purdue Univerisity. This season MSU was 1-1-1 against Purdue. In the first two minutes of the game Purdue went up 3-0 and it looked like MSU's dreams were taking a bad turn. Then MSU fired themselves up and quickly took a 4-3 lead and the game from then on was in the hands of MSU. MSU's defense tore away at the defending Big Ten Champs offensive strategy and MSU won the game 9-6.

Now the Spartans had to face a tough Indiana team to advance to the championship game. Earlier in the year the Hoosiers had beaten the Spartans by a goal, but in the most recent tournament leading to Big Tens MSU had easily beaten Indiana. Well this game would turn out to be one of Michigan State's toughest games yet. Indiana fought the entire way with the leading changing hands. Just as it looked like one team was going to pull away the game was tied again. In the end however MSU came out on top by a goal and advanced to the championship round against cross-state rival, the University of Michigan.

The Spartans had not beaten the Wolverines in two meetings this year. Even though the Spartans vision of a Big Ten championship was only 28 minutes away, the Wolverines had not forgotten the year before when MSU had shattered Michigan's dreams of going to the Championship round of the Big Ten tournament and a guaranteed trip to Arizona for Nationals when MSU defeated Michigan in the semi-final round. Michigan had to settle for a 3rd place finish that year. MSU started off this championship game with the first goal. But then Michigan scored the next two goals and the game was close and intense the rest of the way. When the final buzzer sounded the score was 7-6 with MSU winning the game and becoming the 2000 Big Ten Water Polo Champions, along with a trip to Seattle for the National Championship where MSU would represent the Big Ten Conference. All of Michigan State's hard work and determination throughout the year had paid off in the end. The Spartans celebrated, but come practice the following week they started focusing on their next opportunity...National Championship!!