ATLANTA - Before the start of the NCAA Championships' final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, senior captains Chris DeJong, Davis Tarwater and Peter Vanderkaay huddled up with freshman Bobby Savulich behind lane five. In a union of the Michigan men's swimming and diving team's past and future, the seniors came together for one final team effort and passed the future of the Wolverines on to a new class of Michigan men.

"I had to rein my emotions in for the race," Tarwater said. "Being a Michigan athlete has meant so much to me. It's the most important and meaningful thing I've done in my life. Knowing that it was my last time wearing the block 'M' was hard to grasp."

Four years ago, three freshmen came to Ann Arbor like most other first-year athletes - virtually unknown. But after four years of development under former coach Jon Urbanchek and current coach Bob Bowman, DeJong, Tarwater and Vanderkaay are leaving Michigan's program to join the ranks of the Wolverines' legendary swimming alumni.

"It seems like yesterday these guys were just skinny little freshmen," DeJong's mother Susan said in January. "It's bittersweet watching Chris swim for the last time (for) Michigan. Being a Michigan man means a whole lot to him, and his experience here has been so wonderful."

DeJong concludes his swimming career as one of the most decorated backstrokers in Michigan history. The Holland, Mich., native holds school records in the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes and owns the rights to the Big Ten record in the 200 with a time of 1:41.24. While DeJong's future in swimming is uncertain, he knows it will be difficult to leave behind his Wolverine history.

"It's very sad," DeJong said. "I guess it really hasn't sunk in yet, but it's going to be tough to realize that I'm never going to swim for Michigan again. It's a little overwhelming."

But DeJong takes solace in knowing that he will always have his two best friends, Tarwater and Vanderkaay.

"We're going to walk away with lifelong friendships," DeJong said in a January interview. "I guess that's Michigan's gift to us after all we've fought for it."

Tarwater echoed DeJong's sentiments.

"Those two guys have been my rock at Michigan," Tarwater said. "I don't know if I'll ever find as good of guys, or as good of friends like them. Words can't describe what it means to be able to go out with them. It's been an honor to swim with them."

Tarwater, who hails from Knoxville, Tenn., will have his name etched in the history books for earning two consecutive NCAA titles in the 200-yard butterfly. The senior also owns school and Big Ten records in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events. Tarwater is likely to continue his training in hopes of earning a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

Vanderkaay, whose accolades span many strokes at varying distances, will also be missed next season. The Rochester native is a three-time Big Ten Swimmer of the Year, a two-time NCAA Champion and the American record-holder in the 500-yard freestyle. Vanderkaay also won an Olympic gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle relay during the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

Bowman knows he will have a tough time filling the shoes of his three graduating senior captains, but he understands it's part of the process of building a team.

"You don't replace people like that," Bowman said in January. "You just have to develop some more. Hopefully, it will be part of our growth next year as we try and make our younger swimmers like these senior leaders."

For the Kids: The team hosted a charity event on Tuesday night at Rick's American Caf