NCAA Division II Record Highlights Swimmer-of-the-Week Honors

– Broken records and NCAA cuts were the name of the game for this week’s National Collegiate Swimmers of the Week. Collectively, the award winners from North Carolina State, Washington State, UC-San Diego, West Chester University, Kenyon College and Carthage College posted 27 NCAA qualifying times, highlighted by a NCAA Division II record in the 100 butterfly. The honors are a result their performances November 17-21, 2005 and the six were nominated by coaches, sports information directors, and conference representatives.

Erin McCleave, Washington State
Rutherglen, Australia
McCleave won displayed incredible range by winning four events and setting three WSU individual records and a meet record at the Minnesota Invitational. McCleave broke Olympic Gold Medalist Carly Piper’s meet record when she won the 500 Free in 4:45.82. McCleave continued her success in the second day, winning the 200 Free (1:48.48) and anchoring the 800 Free Relay (7:26.94) that finished with a new WSU record. In the final day of competition, McCleave won 1650 Free (16:17.06), earning a NCAA ‘A’ qualifying time and shattering the school record by 25 seconds. McCleave capped the meet with a win in the 100 Free (50.69). The Cougars finished fifth at the meet.

Cullen Jones, North Carolina State
Irvington, New Jersey
Jones swam to a pair of NCAA DI ‘A’ qualifying times and won a pair of individual events and four relays as NC State won Maryland’s eight-team Terrapin Cup. Jones posted the fasted swim in the nation this season with a 19.35p in the 50 freestyle, then won the event in the evening in 19.62. Jones also claimed victory in the 100 Free (44.16) good for his second DI ‘A’ cut. Jones was fourth in the 100 Fly (49.60, prelims 49.39) in the finals of that event. Jones also anchored four winning Wolfpack relays. The 200 Medley (1:29.00), 200 Free (1:20.26) and 400 Free (2:58.75) relay squads all posted NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time, while the 400 Medley Relay (3:18.96) narrowly missed the cut.

Kathrin Dumitru, West Chester University
Kunzell, Germany
Dumitru re-wrote the record book this weekend at the University of Maryland’s Terrapin Cup. Dumitru established a new NCAA Division II, PSAC, and Maryland pool record with win in the 100 butterfly (53.99). Against largely Division I programs, Dumitru won the 100 and 200 breast (1:02.06 and 2:16.03 respectively), and took third in the 200 IM (2:03.04). Dumitru led WCU to victory in the 400 Medley Relay (3:51.11, Breast split 1:01.90) and the 200 Medley Relay (1:45.31, Breast split 28.22) and led the 200 Free Relay Relay (1:35.86, split 23.51) and 400 Free Relay (3:31.60, split 52.01) to second- and fifth-place finishes.

Michael Baier, UC - San Diego
Sonora, California
At the Speedo Cup, Baier helped the Tritons with a 4th place finish of 14 teams. Individually, Baier placed 11th in the 200 IM (1:53.13), 8th in the 400 IM (4:02.29) and earned automatic qualification to the NCAA Division II Championships. Baier earned a NCAA Consideration time with his 12th place finish in the 200 breaststroke (2:06.48). Baier also powered the UCSD 800 Freestyle Relay (6:48.36) to an automatic time with a split of 1:42.20.

Jessica Connors, Kenyon College
Cedarburg, Wisconsin
In a 89-116 loss to Division I Ohio State University, Connors won the 200 Breast (2:21.90) with an automatic NCAA qualifying time. Connors also placed second in the 200 IM (2:11.59) and the 400 Medley Relay (3:58.93, breast 1:05.34). The following day, Connors led the ladies to a 195-91 win over 13th-ranked Case Western Reserve University. Connors won those same two events and also placed second in the 200 Medley Relay.

Nathaniel Chapman, Carthage College
Columbus, Indiana
Chapman earned three top-eight finishes at the Minnesota Invitational. The earned three NCAA ‘B’ cuts in the 200 back (4th), 100 back (6th) and 400 IM (7th). Chapman’s time in the 200 back (1:51.29p) ranks as the fastest in Division III this season as does the Carthage’s 5th place 400 Medley Relay (3:28.04, backstroke lead-off 52.39). Chapman ranks second in the 400 IM (4:07.07p, behind teammate Stephen Schranck) and 200 Medley Relay (8th place, 1:35.11) Carthage finished fourth behind #9 Minnesota, #25 Wisconsin, and North Dakota.

The National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week Awards are underwritten by Counsilman-Hunsaker & Associates, a multi-service engineering, planning, and design firm that specializes in aquatic facilities. For more information visit www.aquaticconsultant.com