Men's Recap

The Ohio State University Buckeyes are positioned in second-place after the first day of competition at the Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational, being held at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The University of Minnesota, with wins in four of the five swimming events, leads the 12-team, three-day competition with 371 points. The Buckeyes are second with 318 points and Denver is third with 151.

Ohio State started off strong by scoring 60 points off its 200-freestyle relay teams with the No. 1 team of Matt Voelker, Joel Elber, Felipe Travesso and Andrew Bretscher taking second in 1:20.53. Minnesota won in 1:20.04.

The day one highlight for the Buckeyes was a win in the 500-yard freestyle by sophomore George Markovic. The Sydney, Australia native held off Minnesota’s talented Ray Betuzzi to win in a meet record time of 4:22.17. The time, an NCAA championships “B” qualifying standard, bested Betuzzi’s 2006 meet record of 4:23.38. Sophomore Stefan Sigrist also made the NCAA “B” qualifying standard in the event with a third-place time of 4:25.47. With a total of 10 Buckeyes making up the 16 spots in the finals and the consolation finals of this event, the team recorded an event-high 83 points.

“I’m really excited for George,” Bill Wadley, Ohio State head coach, said. “It was a thrilling race for him and he really came on strong at the end to win. Having 10 out of 16 swimmers score for us in this event is an unusual occurrence. We are very happy that the team did so well.”

In the 200 individual medley, sophomore Niksa Roki spoiled a 1-2-3 Minnesota sweep in the event by taking third in a career-best time of 1:49.74. The Gophers placed first, second and fourth overall. Ohio State freshman Justin Farra was fifth in 1:50.65, also a personal best swim.

“I’m very pleased with how Niksa and Justin finished,” Wadley said. “They keep getting faster. In the beginning we were uncertain about this event, but now it is exciting to see how much we have improved.”

Senior Matt Voelker, last week’s Big Ten Conference swimmer of the week, took second in the 50 freestyle with t time of :20.43 while sophomore Joel Elber was fourth in :20.68.

Freshman Sean Moore placed seventh on the 1-meter board with 303.80 points.

In the final swimming event of the evening, the 400 medley relay, Ohio State placed second to Minnesota. The Buckeyes’ quartet of Daniel Novak, Felipe Travesso, Andrew Bretscher and Matt Voelker recorded an NCAA “B” qualifying time of 3:15.07. The Golden Gophers won in a meet record time of 3:12.81.

“This is the fastest we have ever been at this time of year in our relays,” Wadley said. “We have some solid swimmers and we expect them to just keep getting better.”

The Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational continues Saturday and Sunday. Saturday preliminary races start at 10 a.m. with the finals beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday prelims begin at 9 a.m. with 10-meter platform diving finals starting at noon and swimming finals beginning at 3 p.m. There is no charge for admission to any of the sessions.
 
Men’s Swimming
Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational
Day 1: Friday, Nov. 30, 2007
Columbus, Ohio
 
Day 1 Team Scores: 1. Minnesota 371; 2. Ohio State 318; 3. Denver 151; 4. Notre Dame 89; 5. Michigan State and Iowa 85; 7. Hawaii and Arizona State 20; 9. Indiana and Purdue 16; 11. Alabama 15; 12. South Carolina 14.
 
Event Winners: 200 freestyle relay – 1. Minn. 1:20.04; 2. Ohio State (Voelker, Elber, Travesso, Bretscher) 1:20.53; 500 freestyle – Markovic (OSU) 4:22.17; 200 IM – Payne (Minn.) 1:46.88; 3. Roki (OSU) 1:49.74; 50 freestyle – Wooden (Minn.):20.15; 2. Voelker (OSU) :20.43; 400 medley relay – 1. Minn. 3:12.81; 2. Ohio State (Novak, Travesso, Bretscher and Voelker) 3:15.07; 1 meter board – 1. Beneditti (Ariz. St.) 374.80; 7. Moore (OSU) 303.80.

 

Women's Recap

The Ohio State women’s swimming and diving team is in second-place after day one of the third-annual Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational, held at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The University of Minnesota leads the field of 13 teams with 397 points. Ohio State has 238 points and Iowa is third with 130.

Highlighting the day for Ohio State was junior Chelsea Davis, who captured first-place in the three-meter board with a score of 333.10. Freshman Bianca Alvarez followed close behind and finished with 323.95 points for a second-place finish. Classmate Kristen Asman scored points for the Buckeyes as well with a fifth place finish (292.50).

“All of our divers had a great day,” Vince Panzano, head diving coach, said. “To take the top two places in a 48-diver event is very exciting and hopefully this success will continue on to the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.”

The Buckeye swimmers earned 52 points in the 200-yard freestyle relay with their best finish coming in at fourth. The squad of Maggie O’Brien, Linda Lund-Kristiansen, Annie Rennebohm and Samantha Cheverton recorded a time of 1:35.33 in the event.

In the 500 freestyle, freshmen Cheverton and Anita Beck each recorded career bests, as well as NCAA “B” cut times, to finish third and fourth for Ohio State. Cheverton finished in a time of 4:50.22, while Beck had a time of 4:51.98.

“Our 500 freestyle was exceptional today,” Jeanne Fleck, head women’s swimming coach, said. “Both Samantha and Anita were great and Sarah Ratica also had an awesome finish. It was very exciting.”

Sophomore Jill Lockhart posted a season-best time of 2:05.60 in the 200 individual medley to finish 10th for the Scarlet and Gray. Senior captain Lund-Kristiansen also swam a season-best time in the 50 freestyle (24.12) for a 12th place finish.

Buckeye scorers in the 500 freestyle were Haley Mitchell in seventh place, Katelyn Brix in ninth and Sarah Ratica in 10th. Also earning points in the 200 individual medley was Lund-Kristiansen in 14th place. Lund-Kristiansen, along with O’Brien and Rennebohm, scored for Ohio State in the 50 freestyle.

“Overall, I am very pleased with our finish today,” said Fleck. “It was a solid night for us. Although our team may be young, they are not scared to compete.”
Meet and pool records set today included Yuen Kobayaski of Minnesota in the 500 freestyle (4:41.09) and Jillian Tyler of Minnesota in the 200 individual medley (1:58.97). The Minnesota 200 freestyle relay broke the meet record with a time of 1:31.16.

The Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational continues Saturday and Sunday. Saturday preliminary races start at 10 a.m. with the finals beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday prelims begin at 9 a.m. with 10-meter platform diving finals starting at noon and swimming finals beginning at 3 p.m. There is no charge for admission to any of the sessions.

Women’s Swimming
Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational
Friday, Nov. 30, 2007
Columbus, Ohio
 
Team Scores: 1. Minnesota 397; 2. Ohio State 238; 3. Iowa 130; 4. Denver 119.5; 5. Michigan State 107; 6. Illinois 77.5; 7. Bowling Green 72; 8. Purdue 21; 9. Arizona State 19; 10. Miami 16; 11. Hawaii 15; 12. Alabama 9; 13. Notre Dame 7
 
Event Winners: 200 freestyle relay – 1. Minnesota 1:31.16; 4. Ohio State (O’Brien, Lund-Kristiansen, Rennebohm, Cheverton) 1:35.33; 500 freestyle – 1. Kobayashi (Minn.) 4:41.09; 3. Cheverton (OSU) 4:50.22; 200 IM – 1. Tyler (Minn.) 1:58.97; 10. Lockhart (OSU) 2:05.60; 50 freestyle – 1. Busack (Minn.) 22.93; 12. Lund-Kristiansen (OSU) 24.12; 400 medley relay – 1. Minnesota 3:39.40; 5. Ohio State (Lockhart, Schweitzer, Cheverton, Lund-Kristiansen) 3:51.00; 3-meter board – 1. Davis (OSU) 333.10.