Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, October 15
Jones Natatorium
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Northwestern
Eagles Set to Host Northwestern to Open Competition
10/13/2015 2:00:00 PM | M. Swim & Dive
Thursday's dual opens a two-month long home stand for the Eagles
Complete Release (PDF)
HOMESTAND ALLOWS EAGLES TO ENJOY COMFORTS OF JONES: Competing in the friendly confines of Jones Natatorium for the first two months of the season, the Eagles will take part in a trio of non-conference duals before hosting the EMU Invitational, Dec. 4-5. The Green and White boast a 10-1 mark at home over the past three seasons with the lone blemish on their record coming to Thursday's opponent, Northwestern, last season.
DIVING INTO THE 2015-16 SLATE: Nearly two weeks after the Eagles' Green and White meet, EMU will dive into stiff competition to begin the 2015-16 season. After opening against Northwestern, the Eagles will play host to 2015 Horizon League Champion, Oakland, Nov. 7. One week after a clash with the Golden Grizzlies, the Eagles square off against Ohio State. The Buckeyes finished runner-up at the 2015 Big Ten Championships, and will serve as an early season barometer for Head Coach Peter Linn and his staff to assess the squad against a team that placed 16th at nationals a season ago.
A CLOSER LOOK AT NORTHWESTERN: Thursday's dual marks the lidlifter for both teams as the Eagles and Wildcats will open competition in Jones Natatorium. Coming off a ninth place finish at the Big Ten Championships and a 29th place finish at nationals, the Wildcats will rely on a talented crew of returners.
Returning for his final season with Northwestern, Jordan Wilimovksy returns as an All-American in the 1650 freestyle. A specialist in the free, Wilimovsky turned in a 15th place finish in the 500 free at the 2015 NCAA Championships. In the 1650 free, Wilimovsky will be challenged by junior Kyle Lichtenberg (Clarkston, Mich.) while Lichtenberg and sophomore Logan Burton (Chesapeake, Va.-Hickory) will swim alongside Wilimovsky in the 500 free.
While Wilimovksy headlines a talented group of swimmers, Grant Halsall, Almog Olshtein, and Van Donkersgoed have shown the ability to be consistent point-scorers for the Wildcats. Seniors Krzysztof Gilski (Dywity, Poland-Adam Mickiewicz State Secondary) and Andrew Henry (Garner, N.C.-West Johnston), and juniors Alex Chan (Toronto, Ontario-Neil McNeil Catholic) and Marcin Rzyski (Olsztyn, Poland-Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace #4) led the field in their events in last season's dual.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN: Taking on the Wildcats for the fifth time since the 2005-06 season, the Eagles hope to improve on a 1-3 mark against Northwestern over the past decade. The Eagles took the 2012-13 meeting by a score of 157-141 while the Wildcats came out victorious, 161-139, last season.
EMU OPENS SEASON AS PRESEASON FAVORITES TO WIN MAC: Coming off a successful 2014-15 season in which the Eastern Michigan University men's swimming and diving team claimed the Mid-American Conference title and qualified two for nationals, the Eagles were voted to repeat as MAC Champions, the conference announced, Thursday, Oct. 1. The Green and White received five first place votes while conference rival Missouri State University was voted second with two first place votes.
EMU and Missouri State were slated to finish first and second respectively, with Buffalo rounding out the top three. The Eagles have won 68 consecutive MAC duals, dating back to the 1997-98 season and look to be in a position to continue their run in the conference with the return of several key pieces.
2015 MAC Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes are denoted in parentheses
1. Eastern Michigan (5)
2. Missouri State (2)
3. Buffalo
4. Southern Illinois
5. Miami
6. Ball State
7. Evansville
EXPERIENCED VETERANS SET TO TAKE CHARGE: With the loss of long-time leader Mike Fisher to graduation, Head Coach Peter Linn and his coaching staff will turn to a proven group of veterans to lead the squad this season. Junior Alex Chan is one of the elite divers in the nation heading into his third season with the Green and White. A two-time Mid-American Conference Champion and an NCAA qualifier a season ago on the 3-meter springboard, Chan will lead a diving cohort that includes junior Dan Gironza. On the swimming side, the Eagles welcome back seven swimmers who hold times in the program's top-10. Krzysztof Gilski, Cole Bateman, Erik Gissen, Chris Cutter, Kyle Aerne, Andrew Henry, and Kyle Lichtenberg will headline a talented group of returners that helped the Green and White win the MAC Championships last season.
TIME TO DEFEND LAST YEAR'S TITLE: Led by Mike Fisher and sophomore Alex Chan, the Eagles claimed the Mid-American Conference crown in 2014. With hopes of achieving the same and more in 2015, the Green and White will be forced to do so without Fisher. A NCAA qualifier a season ago, Fisher holds EMU records in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke as one of the Eagles' most elite swimmers. Losing Fisher to graduation, EMU turns to a talented group of returners to lead the charge while the newcomers adjust to collegiate competition.
HOMESTAND ALLOWS EAGLES TO ENJOY COMFORTS OF JONES: Competing in the friendly confines of Jones Natatorium for the first two months of the season, the Eagles will take part in a trio of non-conference duals before hosting the EMU Invitational, Dec. 4-5. The Green and White boast a 10-1 mark at home over the past three seasons with the lone blemish on their record coming to Thursday's opponent, Northwestern, last season.
DIVING INTO THE 2015-16 SLATE: Nearly two weeks after the Eagles' Green and White meet, EMU will dive into stiff competition to begin the 2015-16 season. After opening against Northwestern, the Eagles will play host to 2015 Horizon League Champion, Oakland, Nov. 7. One week after a clash with the Golden Grizzlies, the Eagles square off against Ohio State. The Buckeyes finished runner-up at the 2015 Big Ten Championships, and will serve as an early season barometer for Head Coach Peter Linn and his staff to assess the squad against a team that placed 16th at nationals a season ago.
A CLOSER LOOK AT NORTHWESTERN: Thursday's dual marks the lidlifter for both teams as the Eagles and Wildcats will open competition in Jones Natatorium. Coming off a ninth place finish at the Big Ten Championships and a 29th place finish at nationals, the Wildcats will rely on a talented crew of returners.
Returning for his final season with Northwestern, Jordan Wilimovksy returns as an All-American in the 1650 freestyle. A specialist in the free, Wilimovsky turned in a 15th place finish in the 500 free at the 2015 NCAA Championships. In the 1650 free, Wilimovsky will be challenged by junior Kyle Lichtenberg (Clarkston, Mich.) while Lichtenberg and sophomore Logan Burton (Chesapeake, Va.-Hickory) will swim alongside Wilimovsky in the 500 free.
While Wilimovksy headlines a talented group of swimmers, Grant Halsall, Almog Olshtein, and Van Donkersgoed have shown the ability to be consistent point-scorers for the Wildcats. Seniors Krzysztof Gilski (Dywity, Poland-Adam Mickiewicz State Secondary) and Andrew Henry (Garner, N.C.-West Johnston), and juniors Alex Chan (Toronto, Ontario-Neil McNeil Catholic) and Marcin Rzyski (Olsztyn, Poland-Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace #4) led the field in their events in last season's dual.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN: Taking on the Wildcats for the fifth time since the 2005-06 season, the Eagles hope to improve on a 1-3 mark against Northwestern over the past decade. The Eagles took the 2012-13 meeting by a score of 157-141 while the Wildcats came out victorious, 161-139, last season.
EMU OPENS SEASON AS PRESEASON FAVORITES TO WIN MAC: Coming off a successful 2014-15 season in which the Eastern Michigan University men's swimming and diving team claimed the Mid-American Conference title and qualified two for nationals, the Eagles were voted to repeat as MAC Champions, the conference announced, Thursday, Oct. 1. The Green and White received five first place votes while conference rival Missouri State University was voted second with two first place votes.
EMU and Missouri State were slated to finish first and second respectively, with Buffalo rounding out the top three. The Eagles have won 68 consecutive MAC duals, dating back to the 1997-98 season and look to be in a position to continue their run in the conference with the return of several key pieces.
2015 MAC Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes are denoted in parentheses
1. Eastern Michigan (5)
2. Missouri State (2)
3. Buffalo
4. Southern Illinois
5. Miami
6. Ball State
7. Evansville
EXPERIENCED VETERANS SET TO TAKE CHARGE: With the loss of long-time leader Mike Fisher to graduation, Head Coach Peter Linn and his coaching staff will turn to a proven group of veterans to lead the squad this season. Junior Alex Chan is one of the elite divers in the nation heading into his third season with the Green and White. A two-time Mid-American Conference Champion and an NCAA qualifier a season ago on the 3-meter springboard, Chan will lead a diving cohort that includes junior Dan Gironza. On the swimming side, the Eagles welcome back seven swimmers who hold times in the program's top-10. Krzysztof Gilski, Cole Bateman, Erik Gissen, Chris Cutter, Kyle Aerne, Andrew Henry, and Kyle Lichtenberg will headline a talented group of returners that helped the Green and White win the MAC Championships last season.
TIME TO DEFEND LAST YEAR'S TITLE: Led by Mike Fisher and sophomore Alex Chan, the Eagles claimed the Mid-American Conference crown in 2014. With hopes of achieving the same and more in 2015, the Green and White will be forced to do so without Fisher. A NCAA qualifier a season ago, Fisher holds EMU records in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke as one of the Eagles' most elite swimmers. Losing Fisher to graduation, EMU turns to a talented group of returners to lead the charge while the newcomers adjust to collegiate competition.
Players Mentioned
Breast/IM
/ M. Swim & Dive
Back/Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Back/Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Diving
/ M. Swim & Dive
Back/Free/IM
/ M. Swim & Dive
Breast/IM
/ M. Swim & Dive
Fly/Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Diving
/ M. Swim & Dive
Back/Fly/Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Free/IM
/ M. Swim & Dive
Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Free/Fly
/ M. Swim & DiveEastern Michigan Head Coach Peter Linn
Monday, June 04
Day 3 Recap: 2016 Men's Swimming & Diving Championships
Saturday, March 12
2016 Men's Swimming & Diving Champions: Eastern Michigan
Saturday, March 12
Day 1 Recap: 2016 Men's Swimming & Diving Championships
Saturday, March 12