Men's Recap
Led by Ohio Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Year Michael Schultz, Ohio Northern claimed its fourth straight team championship at the 2008 OAC Swimming and Diving Championships at University of Akron’s Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium.
The Polar Bears finished with 305 points, 104 ahead of runner-up Baldwin-Wallace. Mount Union finished third with 156 points, followed by John Carroll (116) and Wilmington (78).
Schultz punctuated the win with a record-breaking performance in the 1,650 freestyle, touching in 16:00.82, shattering the 16:23.06 set by Kenyon’s Andy Regrut in 1984.
Mount Union’s Dan Hampu won his second consecutive 200 backstroke title, touching in 2:00.27. Ohio Northern’s Garrett Dauch was second.
2007 runner-up in the 100 freestyle, Ohio Northern’s Brett Kuhn claimed the 2008 championship with a time of 48.72, 0.15 second ahead of teammate John Fusco.
Another 2007 runner-up was a winner in the 200 breaststroke, as Mount Union’s Jeff Budzowski nipped Baldwin-Wallace junior Nick Gattozzi by 0.29 second.
Wilmington sophomore John Creech captured his second straight 200 butterfly championship, touching in 1:59.08. Baldwin-Wallace’s Hector Diaz was second in 2:00.74.
Ohio Northern’s George Chesney edged Diver of the Year Todd Richert of Baldwin-Wallace in the 3-meter competition. Chesney scored 474.05 to Richert’s 473.80.
Ohio Northern capped its championship weekend with a win in the 400 free relay. Brett Kuhn, John Miller, Garrett Dauch and Michael Schultz posted a 3:12.54 winning time to beat Baldwin-Wallace by nearly two seconds.
Ohio Northern's coaching staff was named OAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
Women's Recap
Led by Ohio Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Year Heather Gilmour, John Carroll edged Ohio Northern for the team championship at the OAC Swimming and Diving Championships at University of Akron’s Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium.
The Blue Streaks finished with 266 points to Ohio Northern’s 257. Mount Union was third with 151, followed by Baldwin-Wallace (100) and Wilmington (91).
John Carroll, the 2006 OAC champion, entered Day 3 with a four-point lead and held off Ohio Northern in one of the closest team races in OAC history.
John Carroll’s Heidi Benson opened the final session with an easy win in the 1,650 freestyle, touching nearly 43 seconds ahead of Mount Union’s Jessica Shetler.
Lacey Shumate led an Ohio Northern sweep in the 200 backstroke, edging teammate Jillian Huber by 0.45 second. Kim Randall finished third.
Heather Gilmour gave John Carroll a win in the 100 freestyle, edging ONU’s Katherine Moore by 0.80 second.
Ohio Northern’s Hannah Bukowy continued her breaststroke dominance, winning the 200 breast in 2:27.41. Baldwin-Wallace’s Stephanie Markley touched second in 2:30.20.
Baldwin-Wallace sophomore Ryan Reynolds routed the field in the 200 butterfly, touching in 2:19.36. John Carroll’s Kim Kern was second in 2:24.46.
Diver of the Year Mary Vallinger of Mount Union captured the 1-meter title with 406.30 points. Terri Lynn Shigle of Ohio Northern was second with 353.95.
John Carroll put a wrap on the championship with a win in the 400 relay as Andrea Kovacs, Liana Sved, Heidi Benson and Heather Gilmour edged Ohio Northern by 0.44 second.
John Carroll’s staff was named the OAC Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
