Wayne State Sweeps GLIAC Championships

The Wayne State University men’s swimming and diving team won its sixth GLIAC championship in the last nine years, as the four-day conference meet came to a close Saturday evening.

Wayne State totaled 852 points, finishing with a 124-point lead over second-place Grand Valley State (728). Ashland was a close third (714), followed by Indianapolis (578).

WSU won both the men’s and women’s championships in the same year for the third time (2006, 2007). Sean Peters was named both men’s and women’s GLIAC Coach of the Year, Kevin Galerneau earned GLIAC Men’s Freshman of the Year honors, and Jeff Grant was named Men’s Diver of the Year.

In addition, Andrey Seryy was voted GLIAC Men’s Swimming Athlete of the Year. Seryy won his third individual conference championship of the week in the 100 freestyle and led off the first-place 400 free relay in the final event of the meet. Wayne State’s men’s team totaled nine championships in four days.

Saturday’s finals began with the 1650 freestyle, as Oskar Nordstrand came in fourth (15:55.65), improving his prior NCAA “B” qualifying time. Cameron Weaver and Jordan Papp finished seventh (16:18.06) and eighth (16:18.32), respectively, as both swimmers made “B” cuts. Justin Rauhoff came in 12th (17:17.02).

In the 200 backstroke, Nathan Hesche improved his “B” cut and finished fifth (1:52.13), while Jimmy Lee came in sixth (1:52.43).

Five Warriors scored points in the 200 breaststroke, led by second-place Joaquin Abascal Gallegos (2:02.62). Matt Victor upgraded his “B” cut and finished fourth (2:03.80), Matthew Laschuk placed seventh (2:06.37), and Cameron Weaver finished eighth (2:09.22). In the consolation final, Fares Ksebati took 12th (2:12.23).

Wayne State also made up half the field in the championship final of the 200 butterfly. Improving their “B” times, Galerneau finished third (1:50.51) and Calvin Reder came in fourth (1:52.69). Justin Rauhoff placed sixth (1:55.15) and Ben Dueweke took seventh (1:55.57).

Wrapping up the meet was the 400 free relay of Seryy, Hesche, Victor and Kristian Larsen, who collectively improved WSU’s “B” time (3:02.11).

Several Warriors will compete in the NCAA Championships in March. Wayne State finished third at nationals in 2010.

Senior Kevin Coates (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) took first (15:34.06) and sophomore Brandon Drogemuller (Hollister, Calif./San Benito) was second (15:45.95) in the 1650 freestyle for Lewis during the final day of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday.

 

Coates won the 1650 and 1000 in three of his four years at Lewis. Combined with his 500 championship last year, Coates owns a school-record seven GLIAC Championships.

 

“Kevin is an incredible talent and he certainly developed himself into one of the best GLIAC swimmers of all-time,” head coach Steve Thompson said. “It was fun to see Brandon on the podium with him and I am looking forward to NCAA’s with them.”

 

Coates’ time was an NCAA A cut. Drogemuller’s second place performance is a spot improved from this third place finish last year. Drogemuller’s time met NCAA B time standards.

 

Sophomore Orla Power (Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose) was sixth in the women’s 1650 freestyle, touching the wall in 17:47.47 for an NCAA B time. Her 1000 free split time was also an NCAA B time.

 

“Orla put herself back on the podium after a rough season,” Thompson said. “I am proud of her.”

 

Freshman Sarah Kenis (Herndon, Va./Oakcrest) was eighth in the 200 breaststroke (2:26.94). She had an NCAA B time in the preliminaries of 2:24.70. A pair of seniors scored points for Lewis in the men’s 200 breaststroke. Arty Czarobski (Lansing, Ill./Thorton Fractional South) was 10th with a school record performance of 2:11.41. Luke Pavlakovich (Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit) was 16th (2:23.86).

 

“Arty finished his career the same way he started his GLIAC experience: breaking the team record in the 200 breast,” Thompson said. “I am very happy for Arty because of the commitment to excellence he made this year. He earned it.”

 

Senior Stephanie Halcomb (Springfield, Mo./Ozark) finished in 14th in the 100 freestyle after a 53.66 performance. Her 53.38 time in the prelims was an NCAA B time. In the men’s 100 freestyle, senior Allan Sliva (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) was 14th (47.78) while freshman Derick Carlson (Norridge, Ill./St. Patrick) was a spot behind in 15th (47.89).

 

Three women scored points in the 200 butterfly. Freshman Caitlyn Scheirer (Washington, Ill./Washington Community) was sixth after a 2:11.88 performance. Senior Allie Henges (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marion) took 10th (2:11.02) with senior Ruth Bass (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) a spot behind (2:13.15).

 

“Our seniors have had stellar careers,” Thompson said. “They have had a huge impact on the progress we have made as a program.”

 

Freshman Dan Chalfant (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) scored points for Lewis with a 15th place finish in the 200 backstroke (1:59.14.)

 

“Our freshmen really gained a lot of valuable experience this week,” Thompson said. “They distinguished themselves in one of the toughest conferences in Division II.”

 

The Lewis women tied with Northern Michigan for seventh place with 245 points. The Lewis men were fifth after scoring 266 points.

 

“Overall, we swam a good meet this weekend and I hope we can build on the positive performances of our season,” Thompson said.

 

The NCAA Division II Championships are March 9-12 in San Antonio, Texas.