Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Chloe Smith
Eagles Close Behind Missouri State Going into Final Day of MAC Championships
3/6/2015 10:29:00 PM | M. Swim & Dive
Men's swimming and diving holds on to second place with 487.5 points
Complete Results
GENEVA, Ohio (EMUEagles.com)—Eastern Michigan University's men's swimming and diving team dipped back to second place on the third day of the 2015 Mid-American Conference Championships, falling behind Missouri State's 511.5 points after amassing 487.5 points thus far. However, the score should sway more in Eastern's favor with the addition of the final diving scores in the 3-meter dive after tomorrow's championship final, as the Eagles qualified four divers to the championship and two to the consolation final while Missouri State has just one representative in the top-16. Trailing MSU and EMU are Southern Illinois (350), Buffalo (339), Miami (328), Evansville (110), and Ball State (77).
In the prelims of the 400 IM, Eastern qualified freshman Liam McKane (Sarasota, Fla.-Suncoast Polytechnical) to the championship round after a personal record of 3:57.72, more than 10 seconds faster than his previous best mark. McKane went on to finish eighth in 3:59.83, which a trio of Eagles also scored in the consolation final. Kyle Lichtenberg (Clarkston, Mich.-Homeschool) led the way in 3:56.19 to win the B final in the 10th-fastest mark in EMU history, followed by Sean Tento (Seattle, Wash.-O'Dea) in 11th in 3:57.70 and Hunter Cook (Hilliard, Ohio-Hilliard Darby) with a time of 3:59.84 to take 13th overall.
Eagles continued to move up in EMU laurels in the 100 fly, in which Erik Gissen (Karlstad, Sweden-Alvkullegymnasiet) and Logan Burton (Chesapeake, Va.-Hickory) both gained entry into the championship final. Gissen set a personal record of 48.65 seconds in the prelims and improved upon that time to finish fifth in 48.59 seconds, ranking fourth on EMU's all-time list. Burton also gained a spot on the coveted list, finishing sixth in 49.15 seconds for the 10th-best time by an EMU swimmer. In the consolation final, Krzysztof Gilski (Dywity, Poland-Adam Mickiewicz Secondary) took 10th in 49.14 seconds, and Connor Johnson (Fort Bragg, N.C.-Terry Sanford) placed 15th in 50.05 seconds after setting a personal record of 49.75 seconds in the prelims.
Eastern had a historic showing in the 200 free, as Andrew Henry (Garner, N.C.-West Johnston) and Brian Moore (Anthem, Ariz.-Boulder Creek) turned in the top two times in EMU history to take home the silver and bronze, respectively, in an extremely tight race. Reigning MAC champion Till Pallmann squeaked away with the victory in a MAC record 1:35.15 with Henry less than a tenth of a second behind him in 1:35.24. Moore completed the final leg of the race for the top time in 1:35.72, marking the first time in program history that two swimmers have gone below the 1:36.00 mark in the same season, let alone the same race. Franco Petrone (Etobicoke, Ontario-Silverthorne Collegiate Academy) also swam one of the fastest 200 free races of his career, touching in at 1:39.97 for 11th.
Though unable to repeat the championship title from last season in the 100 breast, the Eagles had a superb showing in the event as all three competitors notched NCAA consideration marks. Mike Fisher (Saline, Mich.-Saline) led the way in 54.22 seconds, followed by Kyle Aerne (Lake Villa, Ill.-Lakes Community) in 54.88 seconds for fifth. Aerne's preliminary mark of 54.50 seconds was his career record, and places him at third on EMU's all-time list as he is just the third swimmer to touch in below a 55-second mark. In the consolation final, Chris Hodges (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) also had a career time, finishing 11th overall in 55.33 seconds for the fifth-best time in EMU history.
In the 100 back, Eastern had three swimmers appear in the championship final, all of which now rank in the top-five in EMU laurels. Cole Bateman (Hutchinson, Minn.-Hutchinson) led the way in 47.89 seconds to finish runner-up, notching a career record of 47.54 seconds in the prelims to retain his spot as the second-fastest swimmer in program history in the event. Burton and Gissen doubled up for the day, with Burton taking home bronze in 48.86 seconds for the fourth-fastest in EMU history and Gissen placing fifth in 49.64. Gissen's prelims mark of 49.00 seconds is a personal record, and ranks fifth in EMU history.
Eastern qualified four divers to the championship round of the 3-meter dive, led by Alex Chan (Toronto, Ontario-Neil McNeil Catholic) with a career-best 416.25 points to earn the top seed. Joining Chan will be Dan Gironza (South Lyon, Mich.-South Lyon), Sage Stephens (Warren, Ill.-Warren), and Peter Rusenas (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central). Dakoda Johnson (Greenwood, Ind.-Center Grove) and Matt Ventura (Lakewood, Ohio-St. Edward) both qualified to the consolation final, with Johnson placing 11th with 311.20 points and Venutra capturing 14th with 274.65 points.
Eastern ended the day with a runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay, as the lineup of Bateman, Fisher, Gilski, and Henry clocked a 3:14.02. The final day of competition will take place tomorrow, March 7, with the preliminary heats of the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly beginning at 11 a.m. The championship heats, along with the finals for the 1650 free, 3-meter dive, and 400 free relay, will begin at 7 p.m. Live results and video streaming will be available through mac-sports.com.
EMU Individual Results (* signifies a personal best; B is an NCAA consideration mark; # is an EMU record)
GENEVA, Ohio (EMUEagles.com)—Eastern Michigan University's men's swimming and diving team dipped back to second place on the third day of the 2015 Mid-American Conference Championships, falling behind Missouri State's 511.5 points after amassing 487.5 points thus far. However, the score should sway more in Eastern's favor with the addition of the final diving scores in the 3-meter dive after tomorrow's championship final, as the Eagles qualified four divers to the championship and two to the consolation final while Missouri State has just one representative in the top-16. Trailing MSU and EMU are Southern Illinois (350), Buffalo (339), Miami (328), Evansville (110), and Ball State (77).
In the prelims of the 400 IM, Eastern qualified freshman Liam McKane (Sarasota, Fla.-Suncoast Polytechnical) to the championship round after a personal record of 3:57.72, more than 10 seconds faster than his previous best mark. McKane went on to finish eighth in 3:59.83, which a trio of Eagles also scored in the consolation final. Kyle Lichtenberg (Clarkston, Mich.-Homeschool) led the way in 3:56.19 to win the B final in the 10th-fastest mark in EMU history, followed by Sean Tento (Seattle, Wash.-O'Dea) in 11th in 3:57.70 and Hunter Cook (Hilliard, Ohio-Hilliard Darby) with a time of 3:59.84 to take 13th overall.
Eagles continued to move up in EMU laurels in the 100 fly, in which Erik Gissen (Karlstad, Sweden-Alvkullegymnasiet) and Logan Burton (Chesapeake, Va.-Hickory) both gained entry into the championship final. Gissen set a personal record of 48.65 seconds in the prelims and improved upon that time to finish fifth in 48.59 seconds, ranking fourth on EMU's all-time list. Burton also gained a spot on the coveted list, finishing sixth in 49.15 seconds for the 10th-best time by an EMU swimmer. In the consolation final, Krzysztof Gilski (Dywity, Poland-Adam Mickiewicz Secondary) took 10th in 49.14 seconds, and Connor Johnson (Fort Bragg, N.C.-Terry Sanford) placed 15th in 50.05 seconds after setting a personal record of 49.75 seconds in the prelims.
Eastern had a historic showing in the 200 free, as Andrew Henry (Garner, N.C.-West Johnston) and Brian Moore (Anthem, Ariz.-Boulder Creek) turned in the top two times in EMU history to take home the silver and bronze, respectively, in an extremely tight race. Reigning MAC champion Till Pallmann squeaked away with the victory in a MAC record 1:35.15 with Henry less than a tenth of a second behind him in 1:35.24. Moore completed the final leg of the race for the top time in 1:35.72, marking the first time in program history that two swimmers have gone below the 1:36.00 mark in the same season, let alone the same race. Franco Petrone (Etobicoke, Ontario-Silverthorne Collegiate Academy) also swam one of the fastest 200 free races of his career, touching in at 1:39.97 for 11th.
Though unable to repeat the championship title from last season in the 100 breast, the Eagles had a superb showing in the event as all three competitors notched NCAA consideration marks. Mike Fisher (Saline, Mich.-Saline) led the way in 54.22 seconds, followed by Kyle Aerne (Lake Villa, Ill.-Lakes Community) in 54.88 seconds for fifth. Aerne's preliminary mark of 54.50 seconds was his career record, and places him at third on EMU's all-time list as he is just the third swimmer to touch in below a 55-second mark. In the consolation final, Chris Hodges (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) also had a career time, finishing 11th overall in 55.33 seconds for the fifth-best time in EMU history.
In the 100 back, Eastern had three swimmers appear in the championship final, all of which now rank in the top-five in EMU laurels. Cole Bateman (Hutchinson, Minn.-Hutchinson) led the way in 47.89 seconds to finish runner-up, notching a career record of 47.54 seconds in the prelims to retain his spot as the second-fastest swimmer in program history in the event. Burton and Gissen doubled up for the day, with Burton taking home bronze in 48.86 seconds for the fourth-fastest in EMU history and Gissen placing fifth in 49.64. Gissen's prelims mark of 49.00 seconds is a personal record, and ranks fifth in EMU history.
Eastern qualified four divers to the championship round of the 3-meter dive, led by Alex Chan (Toronto, Ontario-Neil McNeil Catholic) with a career-best 416.25 points to earn the top seed. Joining Chan will be Dan Gironza (South Lyon, Mich.-South Lyon), Sage Stephens (Warren, Ill.-Warren), and Peter Rusenas (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central). Dakoda Johnson (Greenwood, Ind.-Center Grove) and Matt Ventura (Lakewood, Ohio-St. Edward) both qualified to the consolation final, with Johnson placing 11th with 311.20 points and Venutra capturing 14th with 274.65 points.
Eastern ended the day with a runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay, as the lineup of Bateman, Fisher, Gilski, and Henry clocked a 3:14.02. The final day of competition will take place tomorrow, March 7, with the preliminary heats of the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly beginning at 11 a.m. The championship heats, along with the finals for the 1650 free, 3-meter dive, and 400 free relay, will begin at 7 p.m. Live results and video streaming will be available through mac-sports.com.
EMU Individual Results (* signifies a personal best; B is an NCAA consideration mark; # is an EMU record)
| 400-yard IM | ||
| 8. McKane, Liam | 3:59.83 | 3:57.72* |
| 9. Lichtenberg, Kyle | 3:56.19* | 3:59.02 |
| 11. Tento, Sean | 3:57.70* | 4:01.77 |
| 13. Cook, Hunter | 3:59.84* | 4:02.09 |
| 100-yard Butterfly | ||
| 5. Gissen, Erik | 48.59* | 48.65 |
| 6. Burton, Logan | 49.15* | 49.33 |
| 10. Gilski, Krzysztof | 49.14 | 49.50 |
| 15. Johnson, Connor | 50.05 | 49.75* |
| 200-yard Freestyle | ||
| 2. Henry, Andrew | 1:35.24*#B | 1:36.78 |
| 3. Moore, Brian | 1:35.72*B | 1:36.15 |
| 11. Petrone, Franco | 1:39.97 | 1:40.46 |
| 100-yard Breaststroke | ||
| 3. Fisher, Mike | 54.22B | 54.34B |
| 5. Aerne, Kyle | 54.88B | 54.50*B |
| 11. Hodges, Chris | 55.33*B | 55.48 |
| 100-yard Backstroke | ||
| 2. Bateman, Cole | 47.89B | 47.54*B |
| 3. Burton, Logan | 48.86* | 49.08 |
| 5. Gissen, Erik | 49.64 | 49.00* |
| 3-meter Diving | ||
| Chan, Alex | 416.25* | |
| Gironza, Dan | 363.70* | |
| Stephens, Sage | 331.30 | |
| Rusenas, Peter | 327.95* | |
| 11. Johnson, Dakoda | 311.20 | 260.15 |
| 14. Ventura, Matt | 274.65 | 242.75 |
| 400-yard Medley Relay | ||
| 2. Bateman, Fisher, Gilski, Henry | 3:14.02 | |
Players Mentioned
Breast/IM
/ M. Swim & Dive
Back/Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Back/Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Diving
/ M. Swim & Dive
IM/Breast/Fly
/ 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
Breast
/ M. Swim & Dive
Fly/IM
/ M. Swim & Dive
Diving
/ M. Swim & Dive
Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Free/Fly/IM
/ M. Swim & Dive
Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Free
/ M. Swim & Dive
Diving
/ M. Swim & Dive
Diving
/ M. Swim & Dive
Free/Fly
/ M. Swim & Dive
Diving
/ 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