Men on the Cusp of Fifth Consecutive Conference Title | Women Close the Gap on Hillsdale
Canton, Ohio - The University of Findlay men's and women's swimming and diving teams were in Canton for the third day of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) / Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship held at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio on Friday, Feb. 18. With just one day remaining, the Oilers men have all but sealed their bid for a fifth-consecutive conference title as they sit in first place with 1504.5 points, more than double Ashland who is in second with 722.5 points. Findlay's women are currently in second behind Hillsdale College but closed the gap from yesterday and find themselves within striking distance as they trail by just 29 points after outscoring the Chargers by 35 points today.
Men
In the 100 backstroke, junior Tim Stollings picked up the championship, securing 32 more points for the Oilers men. Last year's national runner-up in the event, Stollings took top spot on Friday with an NCAA 'B' standard time of 48.19. Freshman Camilo Marrugo finished runner-up with a 50.02 while senior Paul Pavala took third with a 50.41 and freshman Tyler Thomas was fourth with a 50.88. In that race, the Oilers had six of the eight participants in the A-final.
Later in the evening, Stollings picked up yet another victory, this time in the 200 yard butterfly. The standout took first with an NCAA 'B' cut time of 1:47.08 while teammate, sophomore Adam Hornak, also had a 'B' cut, finishing with a 1:50.00.
Sophomore Daniel Garcia put together another big day in the pool, taking home another event championship, his fifth of the week, setting a meet record in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 53.74. Sophomore Luca Chiandussi came in second, also meeting the NCAA 'B' cut, finishing the race in a time of 54.73.
Garcia was not done as he swam the leadoff leg of the 800 freestyle relay, helping secure yet another victory for the Oilers. Garcia, along with Thomas, senior Alex Bouhlel, and freshman Angel Margaritov picked up a victory by finishing the race in 6:50.73, five seconds ahead of the event runner-up.
Freshman Rafael Lozano continued a solid meet, taking third place in the 500 free with a time of 4:38.94.
Women
In the 100 yard backstroke, freshman Mille Berg picked up the event title, touching the wall in a time of 56.61 to take first place. Freshman Sasha Melnyk also raced in the event and took fifth with a time of 58.28.
Junior Rachel Poling scored a podium finish for Findlay in the 100 breaststroke, completing the event with a 1:05.79. Senior Kristina Coleman was close behind, taking fourth with a 1:05.81 while senior Erin Butler was fifth with a 1:06.51.
Sophomore Cecilie Langle took silver in the 500 yard freestyle by posting a time of 5:08.34, pulling away from the third place finisher on the final lap to secure 28 points for Findlay. Langle also took on the 800 freestyle relay along with teammates, junior Megan Irwin, senior Taylor Christiensen, and freshman Aby Hernandez. That group finished runner-up with a time of 7:53.66.