Day one of the 2014 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships hosted by Cleveland State at the Robert F. Busbey Natatorium is in the books after an exciting night in the pool. After the completion of four finals events in the 200 freestyle relay, 1,000 freestyle, men’s 3-meter diving and 200 medley relay Milwaukee lead the women’s with a score of 112 and Oakland lead the men’s with a score of 136.
The women’s 200 freestyle relay kicked off the championship with all eight squads diving in to commence the event. In a thrilling finish, the relay teams from Milwaukee and Cleveland State tied for first place with a time of 1:32.72. Oakland followed closely behind in third finishing in a time of 1:32.90 with Green Bay taking fourth, UIC in fifth, Wright State in sixth, Youngstown State in seventh and Valparaiso to round out the pack.
In the first men’s event of the championships, Cleveland State’s Alex Lewis broke the Horizon League all-time and Championship 50-freestyle record with his starting split time of 19.56. The previous Championship record was held by Hermanus Botha of Wright State with a time of 20.00 in 2012 and Blake Booher of UIC held the all-time record since 2006 with a time of 19.98.
Despite Lewis’ recording-breaking opening leg, Oakland finished out on top of the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:20.37 out-touching the finishing time of 1:20.61 from UIC. Cleveland State took third, followed by Wright State in fourth, Green Bay in fifth, Milwaukee in sixth and Valparaiso in seventh.
The women’s 1,000 freestyle began the individual competition with Milwaukee’s Natalie Johnson topping the podium posting a time of 10:03.62. Oakland’s Patricia Aschan placed second with a time of 10:07.84 while UIC’s Veronica Gibson took third in a time of 10:12.41.
Another men’s Horizon League Championship and all-time record was broken in the 1,000 freestyle by Amr el Sayed of Oakland finishing well before the pack in a time of 9:00.03. The previous record time of 9:01.64 was held since 2009 by Cleveland State’s Mark DeSwardt.
In the 1,000 free, Oakland also collected a second place from Jacob Pearson in a time of 9:20.88 followed a couple seconds behind by Milwaukee’s Tim Halverson. Kyle Riordan of Cleveland State finished fourth trailed by Milwaukee’s Kenny Stelpflug in fifth.
In the men’s three-meter diving competition K.J. Heger of Milwaukee topped the competition on his final dive posting a total score of 344.45. Cleveland State’s Steve Schillero placed second with a score of 294.60 while teammate Danny Roberts captured third scoring 286.50.
The Milwaukee women broke the 200 medley relay Horizon League Championship and all-time record finishing with a time of 1:40.28. The Panthers broke their previous record of 1:40.64 that was posted in 2012.
Oakland claimed second place with a time of 1:41.92 followed by Cleveland State in third and Green Bay close behind in fourth. Youngtown State took fifth place while UIC placed sixth, Wright State took seventh and Valparaiso in eighth.
The men’s 200 medley relay closed out day one of championship action as Green Bay edged out Cleveland State to clinch the top spot with a time of 1:29.00. Wright State and Oakland finished within a second of the lead to take third and fourth place respectively. UIC hit the mat in fifth place with Green Bay trailing in sixth and Valparaiso taking seventh.
2014 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships—Day One Results
Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay: Milwaukee (Anna Yontz, Townsend, Diel, Yokosh)—1:32.72
Cleveland State (Johansson, Kopacko, Pallija, Elbadry) – 1:32.72
Men’s 200 Freestyle Relay: Oakland (Harding, Morren, Kiviluoma, Keresztes) – 1:20.37
**Cleveland State’s Alex Lewis broke the 50-freestyle Horizon League Championship and All-Time record with his starting split time of 19.56
Women’s 1,000 Freestyle: Natalie Johnson, Milwaukee – 10:03.62
Men’s 1,000 Freestyle: Amr el Sayed, Oakland – 9:00.03
**Horizon League Championship and All-Time Record
Men’s 3-Meter Diving: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee – 344.45
Women’s 200 Medley Relay: Milwaukee (Yokosh, McClellan, Diel, Yontz) – 1:40.28
**Horizon League Championship and All-Time Record
Men’s 200 Medley Relay: Green Bay (Hill, Korslin, Hackney, Loeffelholz) – 1:29.00
Women’s Standings after Day One:
1. Milwaukee, 112 points
2. Oakland, 109 points
3. Cleveland State, 104 points
4. Green Bay, 78 points
5. UIC, 70 points
T6. Wright State, 55 points
T6. Youngstown State, 55 points
8. Valparaiso, 44 points
Men’s Standings after Day One:
1. Oakland, 136 points
2. Milwaukee, 128 points
3. Cleveland State, 127 points
4. UIC, 122 points
5. Green Bay, 85 points
6. Wright State, 84 points
7. Valparaiso, 55 points
