Valparaiso won 10 of 12 events on the afternoon as the Crusaders opened the 2007-2008 dual meet season on Saturday afternoon with a convincing 155-81 victory over Horizon League foe Cleveland State. On the men's side the Vikings routed the Crusaders 174-52.
“We won a lot of events and did some good things for this early in the season,” commented Valpo head coach Bryan Morrison following the meet.
The Crusaders opened the meet with a victory in the 400 medley relay as Shaunna Dandremond (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino H.S.), Amy Andracki (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.), Rachel Majercik (Schaumburg, Ill./Conant H.S.) and Jaclyn Krause (Rochester, Mich./Notre Dame Prep H.S.) cruised to a time of 4:06.66, the fifth fastest time in school history. The team won by more than five seconds.
The CSU men were led by Dave Duecker, sophomore Jakub Dobies, and Dan Baiko. Duecker won the 1000 freestyle (9:55.46), 200 yard butterfly (1:59.14), and the 500 yard freestyle (4:51.42).
Coach Wally Morton said, "Dave has been training for the triathlon," the head coach said. "This is his last year with the team and we are asking him to take on additional responsibilities. He won the three hardest races in swimming; I am pleased with his effort and performance."
Grace Arnold (Glendora, Calif./Glendora H.S.) turned in the fourth fastest 1000 freestyle time in school history in her first collegiate dual meet on her way to a victory in a time of 10:57.11, edging out the Vikings by .16 seconds.
Krause made it three straight Valpo wins in the 200 free with her time of 2:03.38 as the Brown and Gold took home the top three spots in the event. Majercik continued the Crusaders winning ways in the 50 free with a time of 25.06 seconds before Arnold won her second race of the day, the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:18.13
Anna Orwick (Broadlands, Ill./Champaign H.S.) earned the victory on the one-meter diving board for the Crusaders with her score of 196.30.
Elizabeth Thompson (Norman, Okla./Norman North H.S.) added a victory in the 200 butterfly by nearly four seconds with a time of 2:15.17 while Majercik followed with a win in the 100 free in 54.51 seconds, giving Valpo event wins in the first nine events.
Arnold finished her day with her third victory in the 500 free with a time of 5:22.73 before Andracki earned a win in the 200 breaststroke by more than three seconds with a time of 2:34.62, ranking in a tie for seventh all-time at Valpo.
“We had some lifetime bests in our first dual of the season,” added Morrison. “Hopefully this leads to more things to come.”
CSU's reigning newcomer of the year Jakub Dobies won the 100 yard freestyle (46.39), and the 200 yard IM (1:59.95), while Dan Baiko won the three meter diving (308.70), and the one meter dive (278.70).
Overall Morton is pleased with the men team's effort. "It was a good opener for us. The times were where we expected. We are very pleased where we are at. We have to get a lot better to reach our goals."
Valparaiso (1-0) will dive back in the pool next Saturday evening in Cincinnati, Ohio as the Crusaders face Xavier in a 5 p.m. CDT meet.
