By Brett WilliamsThe second night of the 2014 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships at the Busbey Natatorium in Cleveland, Ohio opened with record-breaking performances and closed in dramtic relay fashion. After the day two finals completion in the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, women’s 1-meter diving and the 400 medley relay the Oakland men's and women's teams lead the standings going into Friday.
Milwaukee’s Natalie Johnson began action in the pool by breaking the Horizon League Championship record in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:51.81. The previous record of 4:52.35 had been held since 2010 by the Panthers’ Danielle Wenger. Johnson also broke the Horizon League all-time record this season with a time of 4:47.88.
Oakland’s Patricia Aschan placed second for the Grizzlies with a time of 4:54.18 followed by last year’s champion Melanie Waszak of UIC in third.
The men followed suit when Oakland’s Jorden Merrilees finished the 500 freestyle with a NCAA Division I B-cut time while breaking the Horizon League all-time and Championship record with a time of 4:18.83. Cleveland State’s Bjorn Schantz posted the former record in 2006 touching the mat in a time of 4:24.65.
Oakland’s Amr el Sayed touched next recording a NCAA Division I B-cut time of 4:19.61 with Cleveland State’s Kyle Riordan seconds behind in third.
Defending 200 individual medley champion Emily McClellan of Milwaukee, finished at the top of the podium with a NCAA Division I B-cut time of 2:00.34.
Oakland’s Karin Tomeckova placed second with a time of 2:03.37 with teammate Takara Martin in third for the Grizzlies.
Oakland freshman Tuomas Kiviluoma crushed the Horizon League all-time and Championship record in the 200 individual medley finishing with a NCAA Division I B-cut time of 1:47.57. He broke the record of Green Bay’s Willem Poelmans who swam a time of 1:49.06 at last year’s Championships.
The next four finishers all recorded NCAA Division I B-cut times as well comprising of Wright State’s Kile Aukerman (1:48.07), Green Bay’s Poelmans (1:48.08), Oakland’s Mario Rusnak (1:48.69) and Clement Quilliec of Wright State (1:48.73).
In the fastest race of the Championships, Milwaukee's Anna Yontz (23.24) took home the top spot in the 50 freestyle out-touching Cleveland State’s Rowan Elbadry (23.49). Senior Parker Wolf placed third for Green Bay with Oakland’s Allison Bellford a split-second behind.
After breaking the Horizon League all-time and Championship record last night in the opening leg of the 200 freestyle relay, Cleveland State’s Alex Lewis touched the mat with a NCAA Division I B-cut time of 19.81 to clinch the 50 freestyle championship. Wright State’s Lucas Osgood took second place honors while Cleveland State’s Adam Ingledow came in third.
The women opened diving competition on the one-meter board with a record-breaking performance from Oakland’s Tricia Grant in the preliminary rounds. Grant collected a score of 317.70 to break her own Horizon League all-time record as well as the Championship record. The previous Championship record was held by last year’s champion Whitney Johnson of UIC who scored 299.80.
In the finals, Grant continued her dominance to claim the championship with a score of 303.55 after the completion of six dives. Youngstown State’s Bec Stafford placed second scoring 294.50 and Milwaukee’s Rachel Margis took third with a score of 277.15.
The Milwaukee women’s 400 medley relay team of Becky Yokosh, McClellan, Diana Diel and Sierra Townsend broke the 2012 Horizon League all-time and Championship record with a time of 3:40.99 in the only relay action of the night. The previous record of 3:41.23 was also held by a Panther squad.
Oakland was a second behind with UIC in third, Cleveland State taking fourth, Green Bay in fifth, Wright State in sixth, Youngstown State in seventh and Valparaiso in eighth.
Cleveland State continued the record-breaking trend in the relays with the team of Al Shillito, Nathan Grant, Justin Kermack and Lewis setting a new Horizon League all-time and Championship record with a time of 3:13.73. The former record of 4:14.68 was set in 2011 by UIC.
Oakland finished close behind in second while Wright State placed third, Green Bay took fourth, UIC came in fifth, Milwaukee was sixth and Valparaiso finished in seventh.
2014 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships—Day Two Results
Women’s 500 Freestyle: Natalie Johnson, Milwaukee – 4:51.81
**Horizon League Championship Record
Men’s 500 Freestyle: Jorden Merrilees, Oakland – 4:18.83
*NCAA Division I B-Cut Time
**Horizon League All-Time and Championship Record
Women’s 200 Individual Medley: Emily McClellan, Milwaukee—2:00.34
*NCAA Division I B-Cut Time
Men’s 200 Individual Medley: Tuomas Kiviluoma, Oakland—1:47.57
*NCAA Division I B-Cut Time
** Horizon League All-Time and Championship Record
Women’s 50 Freestyle: Anna Yontz, Milwaukee—23.24
Men’s 50 Freestyle: Alex Lewis, Cleveland State—19.81
*NCAA Division I B-Cut Time
Women’s 1-Meter Diving: Tricia Grant, Oakland—303.55 points
**Broke the Horizon League all-time and Championship record in the preliminary round with a score of 317.70.
Women’s 400 Medley Relay: Milwaukee (Yokosh, McClellan, Diel, Townsend)—3:40.99
**Horizon League All-Time and Championship Record
Men’s 400 Medley Relay: Cleveland State (Shillito, Grant, Kermack, Lewis)—3:13.73
**Horizon League All-Time and Championship Record
Women’s Standings After Day Two
1. Oakland, 319 points
2. Milwaukee, 291 points
3. Green Bay, 200 points
4. Cleveland State, 198 points
5. UIC, 171 points
6. Youngstown State, 127 points
7. Wright State, 106 points
8. Valparaiso, 71 points
Men’s Standings After Day Two
1. Oakland, 327 points
2. Cleveland State, 259 points
3. UIC, 203 points
4. Milwaukee, 198 points
5. Wright State, 179 points
6. Green Bay, 171 points
7. Valparaiso, 79 points
