Oilers Open Season at Grand Valley State
Allendale, Mich. – After last season ended early due to COVID-19 during the 2020 Division II National Championships, the University of Findlay men's and women's swimming and diving teams finally opened up their season much later in the year than normal, getting into the pool on Saturday, Jan. 16 on the road against Grand Valley State. Both teams were defeated by the Lakers, the men by a score of 193-91 and the women by a score of 209-77.
Men
Continuing on what was one of the most dominant seasons in school history, all-American sophomore Tim Stollings showed no signs of slowing down this season. In the 100 backstroke, an event in which he earned G-MAC Champion and all-American last season, Stollings touched the wall in a time of 50.92 to earn first place. He later took to the water for the 50 freestyle and fell just short, taking runner-up with a time of 21.68.
Stollings also participated in the 200 medley relay with teammates, junior Paul Pavala, freshman Luca Chiandussi, and freshman Kristofers Bregis. The squad finished two seconds out of the top spot, earning runner-up in the event with a time of 1:34.61.
Stollings final event of the day was the 100 butterfly where he finished runner-up with a 49.62. Stollings is Findlay's record holder in the event, a 46.53 which he swam a season ago.
Chaindussi later took second in the 100 breaststroke, finishing the race in a time of 58.29, and also took second in the 200 breaststroke with a 2:17.62.
Pavala, Findlay's record holder in the event, took runner-up in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:59.95 while junior Jared Toaz took third with a 2:04.12.
Swimming in his first collegiate event, freshman Adam Hornak had a time of 1:44.26 in the 200 freestyle which was good for third place.
Hornak entered the water again in the 100 freestyle where he finished runner-up with a time of 48.70. Teammate Kristofers Bregis finished just behind him, taking third with a 49.20.
Daniel Garcia had a pair of runner-ups Saturday, finished second in the 500 free (4:53.56) and the 200 IM (1:57.71).
Senior Dalton Shevlin took a third place finish in the 3 meter diving competition, tallying a score of 242.55, and also finished third in the 1 meter with a score of 253.28.
The Oilers capped the day in the 200 freestyle relay where Hornak, Evan Patterson, Bregis, and Chiandussi took runner up. Chiandussi swam the fastest leg of the group, a 21.79, giving Findlay a time of 1:28.42.
Women
Freshman Zoey Fedele was the first swimmer on the women's side to crack the top three in a race, finishing in third in the 200 butterfly and touching the wall in 2:15.19 in her college debut.
Fellow freshman Cecilia Langle later took runner-up with a time of 55.01 in the 100 freestyle. She was followed by freshman Gracie Glaser, who had a time of 58.61, and freshman Julia Marcuzzi who finished in 59.74.
Senior Ashton Klopp, a first team all-conference pick last season, took to the pool in the 200 backstroke, finishing in a time of 2:16.52 to claim second place in the event. Sister Brette Klopp was right behind, finishing in 2:18.74. Brette Klopp later took second in the 200 IM with a 2:22.76.
Junior Kristina Coleman, also a first team all-league pick last year, clocked a time of 2:34.70 in the 200 breaststroke for a runner-up finish while junior Erin Butler took third with a 2:37.50.
An honorable mention all-G-MAC pick last season, senior Sarah Miles earned a runner-up finish in the 500 freestyle race with a time of 5:33.18. Junior Taylor Christensen's time of 5:55.24 was good for third.
Freshman Zoey Fedele was a runner-up in her collegiate debut, taking second place in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:00.41, just a couple second ahead of teammate Ashton Klopp who took third with a 1:02.21.
The meet ended with the 200 freestyle relay as Coleman, Miles, sophomore Rachel Poling, and Fedele took second with a 1:43.48. The fastest leg of that race came from Sarah Miles who swam her 50 yards in 25.61.
The Oilers will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 23 when they travel to Ashland to take on the Eagles.