Feb. 21, 2008
Cleveland, Ohio - Schedule and Results
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay leads on the women's side of competition after two days of action at Busbey Natatorium. The Phoenix women lead with a score of 320, followed by Wright State University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who are tied at 292 apiece. Rounding out the field are the University of Illinois at Chicago (171), Youngstown State University (120), Valparaiso University (108), Cleveland State University (90), and Butler University (68). On the men's side, the Raiders have racked up 295 points despite not winning an event on Thursday, followed by Milwaukee (274), Cleveland State (240), UIC (237.5), Green Bay (204.5) and Valparaiso (88).
The Wright State women placed four swimmers in the top five in the 500-yard freestyle, with freshman Krystyna Wieczerzak leading the pack with a time of 4:58.68. Teammate Jessica Weidert followed that up with a Horizon League record-breaking effort in the 200-yard individual medley, touching the wall in a time of 2:04.16, and smashing the previous record by over a second (2:05.39). In the 50-yard freestyle, top-seed Andrea Giczewski of UIC took the title with a time of 23.44, just ahead of runner-up Kelsey Hausken of Green Bay (23.76). In one-meter diving action, Green Bay and Milwaukee shared the stage, as the Phoenix placed three in the top eight and the Panthers placed four. Green Bay's Lauren McGraw and Milwaukee's Ashley Hall battled it out until the last dive, when McGraw pulled away with a score of 276.55, to Hall's 272.85. To conclude the evening, the Green Bay team of Danielle DeGrand, Dana Doute, Ashley Warzon and Laurel Yelton won a thrilling 400-yard medley relay race with a new Horizon League record time of 3:50.64. Milwaukee was second (3:51.22) and Wright State was third (3:51.43).
For the men, Alex Hill of Green Bay pulled an upset over defending champion Scott Lang of Wright State in the 1000-yard freestyle, touching Lang (4:29.68) out by one second. Hill's time of 4:28.70 was nearly six seconds better than his preliminary time. In the 200-yard individual medley, Cleveland State's Jakub Dobies touched out Milwaukee's Chase Gravengood, posting a time of 1:49.82. The Vikings continued to excel, as sophomore Stephen Grove sprinted to victory in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.71, edging Wright State's LeRoux Pelser (20.81) and Zach Fisher (20.82). Cleveland State then dominated once again in relay action, setting a new League record in the 400-yard medley relay. The team of Todd Winchell, Deni Gasparin, Stephen Grove and Jakub Dobies posted a time of 3:18.55, over a second faster than the previous mark.
The championship continues on Friday morning with the 400-yard individual medley, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke, 100-yard backstroke, the 800-yard freestyle relay and the men's one-meter dive.
Day 2 Event Champions:
Women's 500-yard freestyle : Krystyna Wieczerzak, Wright State (4:58.68)
Men's 500-yard freestyle : Alex Hill, Green Bay (4:28.90)
Women's 200-yard individual medley: Jessica Weidert, Wright State (2:04.16*)
Men's 200-yard individual medley : Jakub Dobies, Cleveland State (1:49.82)
Women's 50-yard freestyle : Andrea Giczewski, UIC (23.44)
Men's 50-yard freestyle : Stephen Grove, Cleveland State (20.71)
Women's 1-meter Diving: Lauren McGraw, Green Bay (276.55)
Women's 400-yard medley relay: Green Bay (3:50.64*)
Men's 400-yard medley relay: Cleveland State (3:18.55*)
* New Horizon League Championship Record
Day 1 Team Totals:
Women
Green Bay 320
Milwaukee 292
Wright State 292
UIC 171
Youngstown State 120
Valparaiso 108
Cleveland State 90
Butler 68
Men
Wright State 295
Milwaukee 274
Cleveland State 240
UIC 237.5
Green Bay 204.5
Valparaiso 88