Akron dominated Ball State on Friday night in Ohio.
Akron Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – The three-time defending Mid-American Conference champion Akron swimming and diving team was back in the pool at the Ocasek Natatorium for the 2016-17 season-opener as the Zips swam away with the competition defeating Ball State, 208-89, Friday evening.
In the first event of the new season, the Akron relay team of sophomore Madison Myers (Copley, Ohio), junior Paloma Marrero Munoz (Merida, Spain), sophomore Sadie Fazekas (Windsor, Ontario), and junior Susan Franz (Canton, Ohio) garnered first place clocking in a time of 1:42.11.
The Zips would go on to sweep the top three spots in the next three events (1,000 free, 200 free, 100 back).
In the 1,000 free, senior Kara Kaulius (McDonald, Pa.) paced the Zips for first place with a time of 10:31.50, followed by freshman Jackie Pash (Carmel, Ind.) (10:32.08), and freshman McKenzie Vargas (Roseville, Cali.) (10:37.16). The 200 freestyle was won by sophomore Emma King (Centerville, Ohio) with a 1:57.24, freshman Ellie Nebraska (Columbus, Ohio) (1:57.59), and senior Allison Teske (Green Bay, Wisc.) (1:58.86). In the 100 back, senior Luka Szynal (Lublin, Poland), Myers, and senior Laura Savariau (Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud, France) swam the event in 55.57 (1st), 55.72 (2nd), and 56.49 (3rd), respectively.
Vargas took the top time in the 200 butterfly, touching in at a time of 2:04.97. This was her first top finish of her college career.
Akron would again take all three top spots in the 50 freestyle. The Zips were led by Fazekas swimming the sprint in 23.28, followed by Franz with a 23.99, and freshman Morgan Waggoner (Fremont, Ohio) rounding it out with a 24.06.
On the boards in the three-meter dive, senior Paige Kelkenberg (Lockport, N.Y) scored the Zips nine points with a first place finish and score of 274.65 and senior Rachel Aepelbacher (Novi, Mich.) added another four points with her second place score of 248.03.
After the first round of diving, Waggoner took her first top finish of her collegiate career with a first place finish in the 100 freestyle (52.86), followed by Franz who swam in a time of 53.33.
The Zips would go on to take top place in the four straight events. Szynal placed first in the 200 back (2:00.71), Marrero owned first in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.76), Kaulius won her second event in the 500 free (5:10.29), and Fazekas took home first in the 100 fly (55.14).
Kelkenberg would then claim the top score in the one-meter dive with a tally of 268.05. Aepelbacher took home second place after earning a 260.48.
Akron would close out the meet with a first and second place finish in the 400 IM and the top spot in the 400 freestyle relay.
The Zips are back in action next weekend, Nov.4, as Akron will travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to take on the Bulls in a head-to-head dual at 5 p.m.
