Aqua Oilers Earn All-American and Set Schools Records on First Day of National Championship
Geneva, Ohio – The University of Findlay swimming and diving team began competition against the nation's best at the NCAA Division II Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving National Championships held at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio on Wednesday, March 11.
Freshman Tim Stollings, who was the Male Athlete and Freshman of the Meet at the G-MAC Championship last month, set a new University of Findlay record in the 50 free. In his prelim, Stollings finished the sprint in a time of 20.20, two-hundredths of a second faster than the old record held by Janko Radmanovic (2016). Despite the record, Findlay's standout freshman did not earn a spot in the finals as his time was 20th in the prelim.
Stollings also participated in the men's 200 medley relay alongside teammates senior Isaac Stretch, freshman Colin Martin, and senior Trent Williams. That group earned honorable mention all-American status in the event by taking 16th with a time of 1:29.52.
In the women's 200 medley relay, the team of sophomore Chris McFarland, Kristina Coleman, Katy Kouvaris, and Hanna Cederholm had a time of 1:42.73 in the prelims which set a new school record in the event by five-hundredths of a second. That time put the group in the consolation final. In that final, Findlay had a time of 1:42.90 which was 15th in the event and earned honorable mention all-American status.
Cedarholm also participated in the 200 IM where, in the prelims, she recorded a time of 2:05.39 which was 31st while McFarland took 43rd in the women's 50 free with a time of 24.01.
The Oilers will be back in the pool tomorrow, March 12, with the morning session beginning at 10:00 am. Tim Stollings will be the first to participate and will do so in the men's 100 yard butterfly where he enters with the top time in the nation. Later in the day, Findlay's men will swim in the 400 yard medley relay.
Due to recent concerns with the COVID-19 virus, spectators will not be in attendance for the remainder of the event. A LIVE STREAM of the event will still be available via the NCAA.