Ohio Wins Third Straight, Defeats EMU 161-139

The Ohio swimming and diving team once again displayed its depth Friday evening, defeating two-time defending Mid-American Conference champion Eastern Michigan, 161-139, at the Ohio Aquatic Center. Senior co-captain Emily Wylam (Yorktown, Va.) and freshman Amanda Cecere (Chelmsford, Mass.) each recorded three first-place finishes to fuel the Bobcat victory.

Ohio improves to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the MAC, while Eastern Michigan falls to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in MAC action. 

Wylam touched the wall first in the 100-yard backstroke (58.11) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:10.02), and Cecere finished first in the 100-yard butterfly (58.02) and the 200-yard butterfly (2:03.09). The two teamed with Allison Schaefer and Chelsey Bower in the opening event of the meet to take first in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3:52.74. 

Reigning MAC Swimmer of the Year Maddy Pilchard led Eastern Michigan with four first-place finishes, but the Bobcats’ strong team performance proved too much for Pilchard and the Eagles to overcome.

Senior co-captain Ilse Petersen (Johannesburg, South Africa) had a strong meet, placing first in the 100-yard freestyle (52.62) and second to Pilchard (1:51.50) in the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.82). Cecere wasn’t the only Ohio freshman to notch a victory on the day, as fellow classmate Stacey Huber (Gainesville, Fla.) placed first in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:13.34) and finished second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:01.63), less than two seconds behind Pilchard (4:59.89).

Ali Giordano (Pleasanton, Calif.) led the Ohio divers, placing second in both the one-meter dive (224.03) and the three-meter dive (223.13).   

Ohio sophomore Leah Giancarli (Akron, Ohio) finished second behind Cecere in both the 100-yard butterfly (58.25) and the 200-yard butterfly (2:04.53) to total eight points and freshman Amanda Traylor (Los Alamitos, Calif.) placed second in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:23.12) and third in the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.62) to collect seven points for the Bobcats.

Last year Ohio finished second at the 2007 MAC Championships behind Eastern Michigan. The Bobcats totaled 618 points compared to the Eagles' 665 points.