The 13th-ranked Ohio State men’s swimming and diving team improved to 5-0 in dual meets this season after defeating Wright State Friday at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, 141-87. Wright State, off to the second-best start in school history, drops to 5-2 in duals this season. The OSU women added a 150-87 win evening the lady Buckeyes' record at 3-3 while Wright State falls to 6-2.
After opening the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay, the Buckeyes flexed their might by finishing in the top four places in the 1,000 freestyle, the second swimming event of the evening. Freshman Tom O’Neill took first in 9:22.37 – his first collegiate victory – to lead the sweep that increased the Buckeyes’ lead to 33-2.
“It’s exciting for these young swimmers like O’Neill to get a win, especially right after the holiday break,” Bill Wadley, Ohio State swimming coach said. “Winning and swimming well is a real confidence booster.”
Junior Matthias Sigrist then led a second consecutive one-two-three-four sweep for the Buckeyes by touching first in the 200 freestyle in 1:39.65. Sigrist is unbeaten in the event in dual meets this season, winning all five of his races.
“The first two events really set the tone for the entire meet,” Wadley said. “Our guys were swimming well and then everyone started to swim well. The confidence level was contagious. Everyone was very aggressive in the pool and it was exciting to watch.”
Senior co-captain Matt Voelker won the 50 freestyle in 20:59 – his fourth win in the event this season, increasing the lead to 66-8 after four events. Just before a break for diving, freshman Justin Farra won his second collegiate race by winning the 200 individual medley in 1:52.53.
Buckeyes swept the diving events as well. Sophomore Ryan Jefferson won on the 3-meter board with 383.63 points and junior Wes Wieser took first on the 1-meter event with 341.63 points.
The dominance in the pool continued for the Buckeyes after the diving events concluded. Freshman Quincy Lee won the 200 butterfly in 1:50.81. Sophomore Joel Elber took first in the 100 freestyle (45.78). Freshman Itai Chammah won the 200 backstroke for the fourth time this season in 1:49.88. Chammah’s win sealed the dual meet win for the Buckeyes at that point.
Ohio State freshmen took charge in the first half of the meet to give the Buckeyes a commanding 69-24 lead after five events. Samantha Cheverton won the 1,000 freestyle (10:01.52), Anita Beck took first in the 200 freestyle (1:51.99), Maggie O’Brien touched first in the 50 freestyle in 25.04 and Katelyn Brix won the 200 individual medley in 2:08.02.
"I was happy with our performance," Jeanne Fleck, Ohio State swimming coach, said. "It was a fun meet. We've been swimming against so many ranked teams that it was nice to be able to move our swimmers around and into some different events. They were all very comfortable in the pool and we saw some good things."
Ohio State divers had another strong meet. Freshman Bianca Alvarez won the 3-meter event with an Ohio State school and McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion record score of 396.15 points. Junior Chelsea Davis won on the 1-meter board with 304.35 points.
“Bianca is a very talented, driven athlete who works extremely hard,” Vince Panzano, Ohio State diving coach, said. “Her best diving is still to come.”
After a break for the 1-meter diving event – won by – the Buckeyes continued to record victories. Cheverton led a one-two Ohio State finish in the 200 butterfly, winning in an NCAA “B” qualifying time of 2:00.46 with Jill Lockhart second in 2:06.39. Beck joined Cheverton as a double winner with a victory in the 100 freestyle (52.47) and moments later Brix gave the Buckeyes a “triple double” as she won her second race of the evening – the 500 freestyle – in 5:05.24.
Ohio State’s 200 freestyle relay team closed the meet with a win in 1:36.43.
Ohio State entertains the University of Kentucky women’s and men’s and swimming and diving teams tomorrow (Jan. 12) in another double dual meet at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Meet time is set for 1 p.m. Admission is free.
