11 Career-Bests Pace EMU on Day One of OSU Winter Invite

COLUMBUS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's swimming and diving team completed day one of competition at the Ohio State University Winter Invitational Saturday, Feb. 11. Overall, the Eagles posted 11 top-10 finishes on the day on 12 career-best times.

The Eagles grabbed a second and third-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay to get things underway in the finals session. Sophomores Ryan Current (Chanhassen, Minn.-Minnetonka) and Branson Smith (Louisville, Ky.-Ballard) teamed up with seniors Chris Buzard (Venetia, Pa.-Peters Township) and Kevin Moore (Phoenix, Ariz.-Boulder Creek).

Moore was the Eagles' top finisher on the day, claiming fifth in the 100 Butterfly with a career-best time of 49.26 in his preliminary heat, before touching in with a time of 49.28 in the finals. Freshman Gian Garcia (Jacksonville, Fla.-Creekside) also finished inside the top-10 in the event, claiming ninth-place.

A pair of freshman led the way for the Green and White in the 500 Freestyle with career-bests. Jacob Ehrman (Saline, Mich.-Saline) touched in in eighth with a time of 4:37.31, while Benjamin Ryan (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) wrapped up a ninth-place finish with a time of 4:37.42.

Senior Erik Brinkhoff (Bethel Park, Pa.-Bethel Park) was the story for the Eagles in the 100 Backstroke, shaving more than two seconds off his prelim time en route to a sixth-place finish with a career-best time of 51.11. Corey Smith (Lansdale, Pa.) finished just on his heels, posting a career-best time of 51.19.

Current qualified for the 'B' final in the 100 Freestyle, coming away with a 16^th-place finish, before EMU added a fourth-place finish in the 200 Freestyle Relay to round out the day of competition.

The Eagles return to the pool tomorrow, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. for prelims. The finals session is slated for 4 p.m.

EMU Individual Results
*Denotes season-best
#Denotes career-best

500 Free
8. Jacob Ehrman               4:37.31/4:35.85#
9. Benjamin Ryan             4:37.42/4:36.99#
100 Fly
5. Kevin Moore                 49.26#/49.28
9. Gian Garcia                    49.43#/49.91
11. Matt Martin                50.47/49.62#

100 Breast
14. Conner Finnigan        55.99/55.86*
16. Chris Buzard                57.95*/58.16

100 Back
6. Erik Brinkhoff                 53.41/51.11#
7. Corey Smith                   54.85/51.19#
x. Ryan Current                 50.72#

400 IM
11. Corey Smith                4:10.48#

100 Free
16. Ryan Current              46.37/46.16*
21. Maxwell Wilkinson   46.99/46.17#
22. Kevin Moore               46.73/46.31*
23. Branson Smith            46.58/46.48#
26. Josh Kreider                48.30/48.51
x. Erik Brinkhoff                 46.54#

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Erik Brinkhoff

Chris Buzard

Ryan Current

Jacob Ehrman

Conner Finnigan

Gian Garcia

Josh Kreider

Kevin Moore

Benjamin Ryan

Branson Smith

Corey Smith

Maxwell Wilkinson

Eastern Michigan Athletics