The Denison University men and women successfully won their fifth consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships at the 29th annual event, hosted by Kenyon College at the C.T. Branin Natatorium, February 13-16.
The Big Red women, who totaled 1,654 points to capture the title, won 12 total events, totaled 26 other top-five finishes, set three NCAC records and eight NCAA 'A' cuts to edge Kenyon for the fifth straight year. The Ladies tallied 1,604.5 points after touching first in eight races, setting four NCAC records and posting nine national qualifying efforts. DePauw finished in third in the women's standings with 904.5, followed by Wooster (792), Wittenberg (766.5), Allegheny (638), Oberlin (516), Ohio Wesleyan (402.5) and Hiram (228).
The Denison men won 10 events en route to earning 1,704 points to edge Kenyon for the fifth-straight year. In addition to the event wins, the Big Red picked up 29 top-five finishes, posted 19 NCAA 'A' cuts and set two conference records. Kenyon earned second place with 1,515 points after winning nine races, posting 14 national qualifying efforts and setting two NCAC benchmarks. DePauw checked in at third in the men's race with 987 points, followed by Wabash (717.5), Wooster (591), Wittenberg (563), Allegheny (505), Oberlin (492), Ohio Wesleyan (413.5) and Hiram (181).
Kenyon senior Hannah Saiz (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh Sr.) was voted the 2013 NCAC Women's Swimmer of the Year after winning the 100 butterfly (54.74) and 200 butterfly (1:58.98), and also swimming legs on the winning 800 free relay (7:26.75) and 400 medley relay (3:43.37). All four of her times met NCAA 'A' cut standards, while her squads' time in the 800 free relay is now the fastest ever recorded in conference history. In addition, Saiz set the NCAC record in the 200 butterfly during Saturday morning's preliminary session after touching the wall in 1:57.32. Denison freshman Kelly Frazier (Troy, MI/Seaholm) was named the NCAC Female Diver of the Year after finishing first in both the one-meter (438.65) and three-meter (437.15) competitions with NCAA regional qualifying scores.
Kenyon senior Curtis Ramsey (Wilmington, DE/Charter School of Wilmington) was tabbed the 2013 NCAC Men's Swimmer of the Year after posting five event wins and five NCAA 'A' cuts. He captured NCAC titles and individually qualified for the national meet in the 50 freestyle (20.03) and 100 freestyle (44.28), while also earning automatic qualifying times as a member of the winning 200 free relay (1:19.65), 400 free relay (2:56.77) and 400 medley relay (3:17.89). Big Red freshman Ben Lewis (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) was named the Men's Diver of the Year after winning the one-meter competition with an NCAA regional qualifying score of 488.95 and placing fourth on the three-meter board with a qualifying score of 473.90.
DePauw's Adam Cohen was recognized as the NCAC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year for the first in his career after leading the Tigers men's squad to a third-place finish with 987 points, while Denison's Gregg Parini was named the NCAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career.
Denison's Jason Glorius took home the NCAC Men's Diving Coach of the Year honor for the third consecutive season and also garnered his third Women's Coach of the Year award after also earning the distinction in 2010 and 2011.
