Today started like the previous two. High energy, and all the teams still vying for their place in the rankings. After speaking with some swimmers and coaches, it's even easier to see that everyone here is ready to take control of first place. After tonight, a few people have pulled ahead, but, as they say, "It isn't over till it's over."
Paul Moniak, head coach of host UIC, understands the need for success across the board to take home a trophy.
Coach Moniak doesn't mind being the team "with the target on your back". But he understands how close tonight and tomorrow's competition will be.
First up was the 400 IM. As I've said the past three nights, I love watching IMs and medley relays. The swimmers in these events just seem determined to master it all. And tonight's competitors continued to prove their abilities. In the women's race, it was a close battler between last year's champion, and current record holder, Krystyna Wieczerzak of Wright State from lane three and Green Bay's Amber Bartholomew in lane six. In the end, Wieczerzak pulled ahead by about a body length n the freestyle and took the championship. The junior finished in 4:21.97, just about one second behind her record from last year.
In them men's 400 IM, Luke Martinez of UIC and Mark deSwardt of Cleveland State fought neck and neck most of the way about a body length ahead of the other competitors. DeSwardt wrapped it up in 3:53.91, about a second shy of the record but does get a B cut. DeSwardt's mom was a popular lady last year on the Live blog, as she watched and blogged from South Africa. She surprised her son this year showing up for the championships. When I spoke with her yesterday, she was so happy to have made it here to see her son compete and spend some time with him. I asked him about it tonight, and he said he waited forever on Tuesday morning for her to appear on Skype so they could talk, when finally she showed up in Chicago. He described winning with her here as "pretty awesome".
For the women's 100 Fly, Kayla Redig was the top qualifier and in lane four. When I spoke with her this morning, she ws solely focused on the speed she was prepping for in tonight's race.
To her right in lane three was the defending champion Ashley Warzon from Green Bay. But it was anyone's race until the final 10 seconds when Redig pulled out ahead of the other ladies to finish 55.65.
In the final of the men's 100 Fly, Steve Yemm of UIC was the top qualifier with a B cut in the prelims racing 47.91. Flames company to his right was fellow junior Andrew Schmitt. This race was led by Yemm, and he was constantly trailed by Schmitt. Yemm finished at 47.65, and his teammate Schmitt took second.
The women's 200 Freestyle's top seed was a familiar face. Molley Pipkorn won the prelims this morning with a time of 1:50.60. She had a lot to look forward to after this morning, but it seemed winning was key.
Pipkorn led for the entire race, but she was never without company. A few people were always on her heels (maybe they just say that in track). But she wouldn't let go of her championship from last year, and ended up the champion again racing 1:50.03.
Herman Botha of Wright State was the top seed in the men's competition. The race was super close. Anderson took the first lead, and he kept the lead. Coach Moniak best understands why, beginning with his wins last night.
But it was a competitive race. With the top seed to Anderson's right, and the defending record holder down a few lanes, Anderson had his work cut out for him. Even so, he won in 1:37.72.
We followed that race with the women's 100-yard Breaststroke. Kerry Rossow of Milwaukee was seeded first. She hung tight to Sarah Wardecke of Milwaukee who took an early lead. And Wardecke took the championship with an impressive B cut 1:02.81. Rossow followed closely, just about a tenth of a second behind her finishing 1:02.92.
In the men's 100-yard Breaststroke, Jakub Dobies had the top seed, defending his own record from 2009. He took an early lead of about a half body length, and his competitors started battling for second place. Dobies won 54.11, and Deni Gasparin of CSU took second with a 55.54. Dobies prelim and final were both B cuts.
Women's 100 Back was next, and UIC's Clair Martin had the top seed in lane four. To her left was a familiar face for the evening, Wright State's Krystyna Wieczerzak. Like the rest of Wieczerzak's events, she takes an early lead. It wasn't huge, but you don't have to win by much. She got her second championship of the night finishing in 56.38. Martin came in second just three tenths of a second behind first.
Apparently, the Backstroke is the story of familiar faces. Steve Yemm of UIC was the top seed in this race. His first race, and championship, today was the 100 Fly. This was one of the closest races I saw, and Milwaukee's Kyle Trelka (in lane 5) pulled ahead early. His lead was small, and for keeping Yemm off his back, it wasn't enough. The final leg was close, but Yemm took Trelka's lead, and he won his second championship with a time of 49.74. Trelka finished just behind him with a time of 50.06.
Those were all the individual events for the night, so we headed into diving. Men's 1-meter that is, and after talking with 3-meter champion Josh Gonzalez this afternoon, I was excited for what everyone would bring to the board. In the end, the championship went to Wilson Robinson of Green Bay with 308.40. Daniel Pogue finished second with 295.95 for Green Bay as well.
In the women's 800-yard Freestyle relay, Wright State had the top seed. They walked out to Lady GaGa, which seemed to pump up the crowd (and myself). Wright State took a pretty early lead, and by their second swimmer were ahead by about a body length. By the third swimmer, that lead had lifted to over two body lengths. Milwaukee was following as close as possible, and shortening the gap when they could looking for second. UIC and UWM were fighting for second for the final swimmers (for UWM, it was Heidi Niespodzany, and for UIC, McKinzie Jacobs). In the final 50, WSU had a clear lead of about a body length. Milwaukee pulled away from UIC, and it ended WSU (7:29.53), UWM (7:32.10) and UIC (7:33.96). Last year's champions, Green Bay finished fourth, two seconds behind UIC.
The crowd erupted as the men entered, so much so that I couldn't enjoy whatever song top seeded Cleveland State had selected for their walk in. It was a battle for the entire race. Milwaukee led for about 100 yards, until Green Bay (in lane six) took the lead. When the final jumps went, it was UWM, UWGB, WSU, and then CSU. Mike Schalla for Milwaukee extended the lead a bit. But Green Bay wasn't going to be left behind, when all of a sudden, Wright State (from lane 3) appeared in second place, and then in first. In the final 50, it was WSU, UWM, UWGB, and CSU. Herman Botha really came through for Wright State anchoring the Raiders to a championship 6:39.62. UWM followed with 6:40.66, and Green Bay took third with 6:42.96.
Wow. That last one. I could barely keep up. Everyone in the crowd on their feet for the second night in a row. These races are worth seeing! And the atmosphere here in the Flames Natatorium makes it even better.
You can see archived video of tonight's event on the "Videos page".
The fourth and final day awaits me tomorrow. It's still anyone's championship to win! Tune in on the live blog, the live video, and I'll have a video recap for you soon after. I can't wait to see how tomorrow ends up!
Tonight ended with Green Bay leading the women (558) and Milwaukee leading the men (513).
