Women's Swimming & Diving Opens Season With Impressive Win Over Denison

Complete Results (PDF)

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's swimming and diving team opened the 2016-17 season with a dominating, 196-99, win over Denison University Saturday afternoon, Oct. 22, at Jones Natatorium.

A first-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay put Eastern Michigan in front from the start, as senior Alexis Mitcheltree (Moon Twp., Pa.-Moon Area), sophomores Delaney Duncan (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg), Dora Vrcic, and Stephanie Johnston teamed up to lead the field. The Eagles touched in roughly four seconds ahead of Denison, while another EMU relay team claimed third.

Sophomore Nicole Swartz (Dayton, Ohio-Centerville) and junior Sarah Dombkowski (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) turned in a 1-2 punch for the Eagles in the 1000 freestyle, finishing first and second, respectively. Swartz paced the field with a time of 10:16.15, while Dombkowski touched in with a time of 10:20.18.

In the 200 free, a pair of seniors led the Eagles to two top-three finishes. Mary Grace Van Allen (Indianapolis, Ind.-North Central) touched in first with a time of 1:52.83, while Sierra Wagner (Huntsville, Texas-Huntsville) clocked in in third.

The Eagles claimed first, second, and third in the backstroke events behind a balanced effort. Mitcheltree posted a first-place finish in the 100 back, while freshman Claire Young (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.-Grosse Point South) and sophomore Erika Guenther (Hudson, Wis.-Hudson) rounded out the top-three. In the 200 back, Guenther led the way and Mitcheltree and Young followed, taking second and third, respectively.

After a 1-2 finish by Duncan and senior Genna Worthley (Portland, Maine-Deering) in the 100 breaststroke, sophomore Rebecca Winnert (Buffalo, N.Y.-Williamsville) touched in in second in the 200 butterfly.

In the next event, the Green and White took the top four spots. Johnston led the way, clocking in with a time of 23.75 in the 50 free. Junior Chase Walker (Virginia Beach, Va.-Landstown) was just behind Johnston in second, just edging out sophomore Michal Liberman (Rosh Haayin, Israel-Begin). Van Allen posted her second first-place finish of the day in the 100 free, with Wagner and Johnston touching in just behind her.

The Eagles recorded their third consecutive sweep of an event in the 200 back, where Guenther clocked in with a time of 2:04.11 to best the field. Mitcheltree's time of 2:04.63 was good for second, while freshman Casey Gavigan (East Setauket, N.Y.-Ward Melville) took third. EMU's breaststroke duo struck again in the 200, with Duncan claiming first and Worthley taking second.

Dombkowski and Vrcic closed out the individual events with wins, earning first-place in the 500 free and 200 individual medley, respectively, before the Eagles capped a strong afternoon with a relay win. Johnston, Wagner, Mitcheltree, and Walker teamed up in the 400 Free Relay, taking first with a time of 3:33.17.

Meanwhile, junior Allie Shereda (Fraser, Mich.-Fraser) paced the Eagles on the springboard, turning in a sweep. Shereda posted a score of 280.96 on the 3-meter before leading the way on the 1-meter with a score of 274.95. Shereda highlighted an outstanding day for divers, as junior Emily Tubbs (Monroe, Mich.-Monroe) and sophomore Gabriella Mace placed second and third, respectively, on the 3-meter.

EMU hits the road next weekend, Oct. 29, for a Mid-American Conference clash with Ohio University. The meet is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Athens, Ohio.

EMU Individual Results
1000 Free
1. Nicole Swartz              10:16.50
2. Sarah Dombkowski     10:20.18
6. Abby Aumiller               11:02.34

3-meter
1. Alli Shereda                   280.96
2. Emily Tubbs                   247.58
4. Gabriella Mace             224.55

200 Free
1. Mary Grace Van Allen                               1:52.83
3. Sierra Wagner                               1:55.58
4. Marissa Marion                            1:57.14
7. Rachel Stark                                   2:00.32
8. Wendy Pfefferkorn                    2:02.27

100 Back
1. Alexis Mitcheltree                      56.50
2. Claire Young                                  57.10
3. Erika Guenther                             57.67
4. Casey Gavigan                              57.83
6. Dora Vrcic                                       58.58

100 Breast
1. Delaney Duncan                          1:03.88
2. Genna Worthley                          1:05.28
4. Emily Wimmer                              1:07.55

200 Fly
2. Rebecca Winnert                         2:08.81
4. Kylie Sutherlin                              2:10.35
6. Sydney Thomas                           2:11.66
7. Makenzie Garringer                   2:13.72

50 Free
1. Stephanie Johnston                   23.75
2. Chase Walker                                                24.46
3. Michal Liberman                          24.51
4. Abby Saddler                                24.72
6. Ariana Ortiz                                    25.12

100 Free
1. Mary Grace Van Allen                               52.40
2. Sierra Wagner                               52.51
3. Stephanie Johnston                   52.68
5. Rachel Stark                                   54.00
6. Arianna Ortiz                                 54.11
x. Hannah Newell                            54.08
x. Abby Saddler                                54.64
x. Marissa Marion                            55.20
x. Victoria Springman                     55.84
x. Wendy Pfefferkorn                    56.77

200 Back
1. Erika Guenther                             2:04.11
2. Alexis Mitcheltree                      2:04.63
3. Casey Gavigan                              2:06.32
5. Claire Young                                  2:07.39
8. Abby Aumiller                               2:11.12

200 Breast
1. Delaney Duncan                          2:20.72
2. Genna Worthley                          2:21.87
4. Emily Wimmer                              2:28.10

500 Free
1. Sarah Dombkowski                     5:01.46
4. Rebecca Winnert                         5:12.77
5. Sydney Thomas                           5:16.52

100 Fly
1. Dora Vrcic                                       57.38
x. Michal Liberman                          57.43
x. Makenzie Garringer                   58.88
x. Kylie Sutherlin                              59.17
x. Chase Walker                                                59.57

1-meter
1. Alli Shereda                                   274.95
x. Emily Tubbs                                   231.45
x. Molly Miller                                   237.45

200 IM
x. Claire Young                                  2:10.43
x. Sydney Thomas                           2:12.96
x. Kylie Sutherlin                              2:13.03
x. Nicole Swartz                                                2:13.07

Women's Swimming & Diving Opens Season With Impressive Win Over Denison

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Abby Aumiller

Sarah Dombkowski

Delaney Duncan

Makenzie Garringer

Casey Gavigan

Erika Guenther

Stephanie Johnston

Michal Liberman

Marissa Marion

Molly Miller

Alexis Mitcheltree

Hannah Newell

Arianna Ortiz

Wendy Pfefferkorn

Abby Saddler

Alli Shereda

Victoria Springman

Rachel Stark

Kylie Sutherlin

Nicole Swartz

Sydney Thomas

Emily Tubbs

Mary Grace Van Allen

Dora Vrcic

Sierra Wagner

Chase Walker

Emily Wimmer

Rebecca Winnert

Genna Worthley

Claire Young

Eastern Michigan Athletics