The Cleveland State men’s swimming and diving team and the Milwaukee Women’s Swimming and Diving Teams won the 2013 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships in Chicago, Ill., after four days of grueling competition.
The Milwaukee women’s team sat in fifth place after the first day of competition, but steadily climbed the leaderboard, entering the final day of competition in second place and after a strong day at the pool Saturday overtook Cleveland State to win their second consecutive League championship.
Cleveland State finished in second place, 31 points behind the Panthers with 657.5 points. Green Bay (647) edged out UIC (646.5) by .5 points for third place. Wright State was fifth with 391 points, Youngstown State sixth with 343 and Valpo seventh with 176.5 points.
On the men’s side, the Vikings trailed Milwaukee by five points after the first day, but took the lead on Thursday and never looked back in winning their first men’s championship since the 2006 season. Milwaukee – which entered the meet as the three-time defending champion on the men’s side – finished in second place, 46.5 points behind the Vikings. UIC was third with 705 points, Green Bay fourth with 533.5, Wright State fifth with 445 and Valparaiso sixth with 166 points.
UIC’s Veronica Gibson and Green Bay’s Willem Poelmans were the women’s and men’s Newcomers of the Year after both freshman captured event titles in their rookie campaigns.
Whitney Johnson of UIC and K.J. Heger of Milwaukee were the women’s and men’s Divers of the Meet after they both swept the 1- and 3-meter diving competitions. Johnson’s diving coach Susan Bromberg and Heger’s diving coach Todd Hill were the women’s and men’s Diving Coaches of the Year.
Melanie Waszak was named the Women’s Swimmer of the Meet after winning two event titles and Cleveland State’s Mark deSwardt was the Men’s Swimmer of the meet after winning two events, as well.
Milwaukee’s Emily McClellan – who won three individual titles at this year’s championship – repeated as the Women’s Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year. Cleveland State’s Al Shillito was the Men’s Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year.
Paul Moniak was the Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year and Wally Morton was named the Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year.
Men’s Standings (Final)
1. Cleveland State 800.5
2. Milwaukee 754
3. UIC 705
4. Green Bay 533.5
5. Wright State 445
6. Valparaiso 166
Women’s Standings (Final)
1. Milwaukee 688.5
2. Cleveland State 657.5
3. Green Bay 647
4. UIC 646.5
5. Wright State 391
6. Youngstown State 343
7. Valparaiso 176.5
