Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, December 3
Jones Natatorium
10 a.m. / 6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
EMU Invite
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Dominant Performances Lead Eagles to First-Place Finish at EMU Invitational
12/3/2016 8:15:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Eagles posted their highest point total in more than a decade
Photo Gallery
Complete Results (PDF)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's swimming and diving team wrapped up first place at the EMU Invitational for the third consecutive year Saturday, Dec. 3, with a number of season-best performances. The Eagles compiled a total of 1,311 points to come away as the top team, while Wayne State (924) and Ashland (544) finished second and third, respectively. EMU's point total marked the highest for the Green and White in more than a decade at the event.
A 1-2 finish in the 200 Medley Relay kicked off another strong day for the Eagles as they continued to distance themselves from the rest of the field. Senior Alexis Mitcheltree (Moon Twp., Pa.-Moon Area) and sophomores Delaney Duncan (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg), Dora Vrcic, and Stephanie Johnston teamed up to touch in with a season-best time of 1:40.73 to finish nearly three seconds ahead of the runner-up. The time marked the fastest race by the Eagles in the event this season by roughly a second and ranks as the second-fastest time in the MAC this year. Coming in second where sophomore Michal Liberman (Rosh Haayin, Israel-Begin), senior Genna Worthley (Portland, Maine-Deering), senior Carly Jackson (La Porte, Ind.-La Porte), and junior Chase Walker (Virginia Beach, Va.-Landstown) with a time of 1:43.25.
EMU's dominating performance carried over to the 400 IM as the meet transitioned to individual races. Sophomore Nicole Swartz (Dayton, Ohio-Centerville) clocked in with a time of 4:31.57 in her first time competing in the race this season to claim the top spot. The Eagles came away with the top-four times in the race as freshman Sydney Thomas, sophomore Rebecca Winnert (Buffalo, N.Y.-Williamsville), and freshman Kylie Sutherlin touched in behind Swartz.
In the 100 butterfly, Liberman fueled the Eagles to another strong showing. Liberman clocked in with a time of 56.47 to record the win, while Mitcheltree and Vrcic placed second and third, respectively, behind a pair of season-best times.
Eastern nabbed four of the top-five spots in the 200 freestyle as a group of veterans led the way. Senior Mary Grace Van Allen (Indianapolis, Ind.-North Central) wrapped up a first-place finish with a season-best time of 1:50.77, while fellow senior Sierra Wagner (Huntsville, Texas-Huntsville) touched in with a season-best time of 1:54.63 as the runner-up.
Duncan and Worthley continued the win streak for the Eagles, grabbing the top-two places in the 200 breaststroke. Duncan clocked in with a time of 1:02.58 to take first, while Worthley's season-best mark of 1:04.83 was good for second.
After Mitcheltree and freshman Claire Young (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.-Grosse Pointe South) finished second and third, respectively, in the 100 backstroke, EMU closed out the morning session with an incredible showing in the 800 Free Relay. Wagner, sophomore Emilie Desnoyers, Swartz, and Van Allen combined to record a time of 7:31.41 and register a first-place finish in their first time competing in the race this season. EMU's second relay squad was the closest, claiming second, and clocking in with a time of 7:46.83.
Prior to the final session of swim events, the Eagles closed out the diving portion of the two-day meet on the 3-meter. Freshman Brielle Johnston (Ottawa, Ontario-Catholique Franco-Quest) posted the highest score by an Eagle this season, and the highest of her career, with 299.15 points. Johnston's score ranks as the fifth-highest mark in the Mid-American Conference this season. Wright State squeezed out a second-place finish, while junior Alli Shereda (Fraser, Mich.-Fraser) claimed third.
The Green and White kicked off the final session of the meet with a 1-2 finish in the 200 Free Relay. The relay team of Wagner, Liberman, Mitcheltree, and Stephanie Johnston clocked in with a time of 1:33.60 to lead the way. EMU's other relay was not far behind, touching in in 1:35.18.
Eastern Michigan's distance swimmers came through with another solid finish in the 500 free as Dombkowski and Swartz secured the top-two spots. Dombkowski notched the victory, touching in with a season-best time of 4:58.22. Swartz was just behind her, finishing second with a season-best time of 5:00.24.
In the 200 IM, Van Allen secured her second win of the day. Getting out to an early lead, Van Allen bested the field by more than three seconds en route to the first-place finish. Sophomore Erika Guenther (Hudson, Wis.-Hudson) snagged runner-up honors with a time of 2:09.06.
For the third consecutive event, Eastern registered the top-two times as Stephanie Johnston and Wagner turned in a pair of season-bests. Shaving roughly one tenth of a second of her previous season-best, Johnston clocked in in 23.37, the sixth-fastest time in the conference this year. Wagner touched in just behind her, wrapping up second-place with a season-best time of 23.49.
The meet came to a close with another dominating relay effort for the Green and White in the 400 Medley Relay. Mitcheltree, Duncan, Vrcic, and Van Allen combined for a time of 3:43.20, the second-fastest mark in the league this year, while EMU's other relay team finished second to provide the Eagles with another 1-2 punch.
The EMU Invitational marked the final competition of the calendar year for the Eagles. Eastern returns to action next month, Jan. 21, in double dual action against Tiffin and Wayne State at 1 p.m. inside Jones Natatorium.
Team Standings
1. Eastern Michigan 1311
2. Wayne State 924
3. Ashland 544
4. Tiffin 279
5. Wright State 33
EMU Individual Results
*Denotes season-best time
# Denotes career-best time
400 IM
1. Nicole Swartz 4:31.57*
2. Sydney Thomas 4:38.31#
3. Rebecca Winnert 4:42.00
4. Kylie Sutherlin 4:44.25
100 Fly
1. Michal Liberman 56.47
2. Alexis Mitcheltree 56.58*
3. Dora Vrcic 57.00*
4. Carly Jackson 57.24*
x. Chase Walker 58.41#
x. Makenzie Garringer 58.71
x. Casey Gavigan 59.66#
x. Emilie Desnoyers 1:00.08*
x. Arianna Ortiz 1:02.90#
200 Free
1. Mary Grace Van Allen 1:50.77*
3. Sierra Wagner 1:54.43*
4. Sarah Dombkowski 1:56.36
5. Stephanie Johnston 1:57.07
x. Marissa Marion 1:57.58
x. Hannah Newell 1:57.84*
x. Victoria Springman 1:59.42#
x. Wendy Pfefferkorn 2:00.51#
x. Abby Saddler 2:00.82
x. Rachel Stark 2:00.98
100 Breast
1. Delaney Duncan 1:02.58
2. Genna Worthley 1:04.83
4. Emily Wimmer 1:05.89*
7. Erika Guenther 1:08.64
100 Back
2. Alexis Mitcheltree 56.70
3. Claire Young 56.82
4. Michal Liberman 57.73
6. Casey Gavigan 58.57
x. Dora Vrcic 58.14*
x. Abby Aumiller 59.19*
3-meter Dive
1. Brielle Johnston 299.15*
3. Alli Shereda 261.45
4. Gabrielle Mace 251.25
5. Emily Tubbs 237.75
6. Molly Miller 232.05
8. Sophia Tsafantakis 219.90
500 Free
1. Sarah Dombkowski 4:58.22*
2. Nicole Swartz 5:00.24*
5. Rebecca Winnert 5:14.59
8. Marissa Marion 5:31.56
x. Carly Jackson 5:08.99*
x. Abby Aumiller 5:15.51*
x. Emilie Desnoyers 5:21.29*
200 IM
1. Mary Grace Van Allen 2:06.05
2. Erika Guenther 2:09.06
6. Kylie Sutherlin 2:11.00
8. Claire Young 2:11.75*
x. Makenzie Garringer 2:11.12
x. Sydney Thomas 2:11.33
x. Genna Worthley 2:11.68*
50 Free
1. Stephanie Johnston 23.37*
2. Sierra Wagner 23.49*
4. Chase Walker 24.28*
5. Dora Vrcic 24.34*
x. Alexis Mitcheltree 24.72
x. Victoria Springman 24.72*
x. Michal Liberman 24.77
x. Arianna Ortiz 24.81*
x. Delaney Duncan 24.83*
x. Abby Saddler 24.95
x. Rachel Stark 25.18*
x. Casey Gavigan 25.50*
x. Hannah Newell 25.61*
x. Emily Wimmer 25.61*
x. Wendy Pfefferkorn 26.37*
Complete Results (PDF)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's swimming and diving team wrapped up first place at the EMU Invitational for the third consecutive year Saturday, Dec. 3, with a number of season-best performances. The Eagles compiled a total of 1,311 points to come away as the top team, while Wayne State (924) and Ashland (544) finished second and third, respectively. EMU's point total marked the highest for the Green and White in more than a decade at the event.
A 1-2 finish in the 200 Medley Relay kicked off another strong day for the Eagles as they continued to distance themselves from the rest of the field. Senior Alexis Mitcheltree (Moon Twp., Pa.-Moon Area) and sophomores Delaney Duncan (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg), Dora Vrcic, and Stephanie Johnston teamed up to touch in with a season-best time of 1:40.73 to finish nearly three seconds ahead of the runner-up. The time marked the fastest race by the Eagles in the event this season by roughly a second and ranks as the second-fastest time in the MAC this year. Coming in second where sophomore Michal Liberman (Rosh Haayin, Israel-Begin), senior Genna Worthley (Portland, Maine-Deering), senior Carly Jackson (La Porte, Ind.-La Porte), and junior Chase Walker (Virginia Beach, Va.-Landstown) with a time of 1:43.25.
EMU's dominating performance carried over to the 400 IM as the meet transitioned to individual races. Sophomore Nicole Swartz (Dayton, Ohio-Centerville) clocked in with a time of 4:31.57 in her first time competing in the race this season to claim the top spot. The Eagles came away with the top-four times in the race as freshman Sydney Thomas, sophomore Rebecca Winnert (Buffalo, N.Y.-Williamsville), and freshman Kylie Sutherlin touched in behind Swartz.
In the 100 butterfly, Liberman fueled the Eagles to another strong showing. Liberman clocked in with a time of 56.47 to record the win, while Mitcheltree and Vrcic placed second and third, respectively, behind a pair of season-best times.
Eastern nabbed four of the top-five spots in the 200 freestyle as a group of veterans led the way. Senior Mary Grace Van Allen (Indianapolis, Ind.-North Central) wrapped up a first-place finish with a season-best time of 1:50.77, while fellow senior Sierra Wagner (Huntsville, Texas-Huntsville) touched in with a season-best time of 1:54.63 as the runner-up.
Duncan and Worthley continued the win streak for the Eagles, grabbing the top-two places in the 200 breaststroke. Duncan clocked in with a time of 1:02.58 to take first, while Worthley's season-best mark of 1:04.83 was good for second.
After Mitcheltree and freshman Claire Young (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.-Grosse Pointe South) finished second and third, respectively, in the 100 backstroke, EMU closed out the morning session with an incredible showing in the 800 Free Relay. Wagner, sophomore Emilie Desnoyers, Swartz, and Van Allen combined to record a time of 7:31.41 and register a first-place finish in their first time competing in the race this season. EMU's second relay squad was the closest, claiming second, and clocking in with a time of 7:46.83.
Prior to the final session of swim events, the Eagles closed out the diving portion of the two-day meet on the 3-meter. Freshman Brielle Johnston (Ottawa, Ontario-Catholique Franco-Quest) posted the highest score by an Eagle this season, and the highest of her career, with 299.15 points. Johnston's score ranks as the fifth-highest mark in the Mid-American Conference this season. Wright State squeezed out a second-place finish, while junior Alli Shereda (Fraser, Mich.-Fraser) claimed third.
The Green and White kicked off the final session of the meet with a 1-2 finish in the 200 Free Relay. The relay team of Wagner, Liberman, Mitcheltree, and Stephanie Johnston clocked in with a time of 1:33.60 to lead the way. EMU's other relay was not far behind, touching in in 1:35.18.
Eastern Michigan's distance swimmers came through with another solid finish in the 500 free as Dombkowski and Swartz secured the top-two spots. Dombkowski notched the victory, touching in with a season-best time of 4:58.22. Swartz was just behind her, finishing second with a season-best time of 5:00.24.
In the 200 IM, Van Allen secured her second win of the day. Getting out to an early lead, Van Allen bested the field by more than three seconds en route to the first-place finish. Sophomore Erika Guenther (Hudson, Wis.-Hudson) snagged runner-up honors with a time of 2:09.06.
For the third consecutive event, Eastern registered the top-two times as Stephanie Johnston and Wagner turned in a pair of season-bests. Shaving roughly one tenth of a second of her previous season-best, Johnston clocked in in 23.37, the sixth-fastest time in the conference this year. Wagner touched in just behind her, wrapping up second-place with a season-best time of 23.49.
The meet came to a close with another dominating relay effort for the Green and White in the 400 Medley Relay. Mitcheltree, Duncan, Vrcic, and Van Allen combined for a time of 3:43.20, the second-fastest mark in the league this year, while EMU's other relay team finished second to provide the Eagles with another 1-2 punch.
The EMU Invitational marked the final competition of the calendar year for the Eagles. Eastern returns to action next month, Jan. 21, in double dual action against Tiffin and Wayne State at 1 p.m. inside Jones Natatorium.
Team Standings
1. Eastern Michigan 1311
2. Wayne State 924
3. Ashland 544
4. Tiffin 279
5. Wright State 33
EMU Individual Results
*Denotes season-best time
# Denotes career-best time
400 IM
1. Nicole Swartz 4:31.57*
2. Sydney Thomas 4:38.31#
3. Rebecca Winnert 4:42.00
4. Kylie Sutherlin 4:44.25
100 Fly
1. Michal Liberman 56.47
2. Alexis Mitcheltree 56.58*
3. Dora Vrcic 57.00*
4. Carly Jackson 57.24*
x. Chase Walker 58.41#
x. Makenzie Garringer 58.71
x. Casey Gavigan 59.66#
x. Emilie Desnoyers 1:00.08*
x. Arianna Ortiz 1:02.90#
200 Free
1. Mary Grace Van Allen 1:50.77*
3. Sierra Wagner 1:54.43*
4. Sarah Dombkowski 1:56.36
5. Stephanie Johnston 1:57.07
x. Marissa Marion 1:57.58
x. Hannah Newell 1:57.84*
x. Victoria Springman 1:59.42#
x. Wendy Pfefferkorn 2:00.51#
x. Abby Saddler 2:00.82
x. Rachel Stark 2:00.98
100 Breast
1. Delaney Duncan 1:02.58
2. Genna Worthley 1:04.83
4. Emily Wimmer 1:05.89*
7. Erika Guenther 1:08.64
100 Back
2. Alexis Mitcheltree 56.70
3. Claire Young 56.82
4. Michal Liberman 57.73
6. Casey Gavigan 58.57
x. Dora Vrcic 58.14*
x. Abby Aumiller 59.19*
3-meter Dive
1. Brielle Johnston 299.15*
3. Alli Shereda 261.45
4. Gabrielle Mace 251.25
5. Emily Tubbs 237.75
6. Molly Miller 232.05
8. Sophia Tsafantakis 219.90
500 Free
1. Sarah Dombkowski 4:58.22*
2. Nicole Swartz 5:00.24*
5. Rebecca Winnert 5:14.59
8. Marissa Marion 5:31.56
x. Carly Jackson 5:08.99*
x. Abby Aumiller 5:15.51*
x. Emilie Desnoyers 5:21.29*
200 IM
1. Mary Grace Van Allen 2:06.05
2. Erika Guenther 2:09.06
6. Kylie Sutherlin 2:11.00
8. Claire Young 2:11.75*
x. Makenzie Garringer 2:11.12
x. Sydney Thomas 2:11.33
x. Genna Worthley 2:11.68*
50 Free
1. Stephanie Johnston 23.37*
2. Sierra Wagner 23.49*
4. Chase Walker 24.28*
5. Dora Vrcic 24.34*
x. Alexis Mitcheltree 24.72
x. Victoria Springman 24.72*
x. Michal Liberman 24.77
x. Arianna Ortiz 24.81*
x. Delaney Duncan 24.83*
x. Abby Saddler 24.95
x. Rachel Stark 25.18*
x. Casey Gavigan 25.50*
x. Hannah Newell 25.61*
x. Emily Wimmer 25.61*
x. Wendy Pfefferkorn 26.37*
Players Mentioned
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