Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 25
Oxford, Ohio
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
MAC Championship
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Women's Swimming & Diving Finishes Runner-Up at MAC Championships
2/25/2017 10:46:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
Sophomore Nicole Swartz picked up a win in the 1650 Freestyle
Complete Results (PDF)
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's swimming and diving team finished runner-up at the Mid-American Conference Championships with a total of 600 points, behind the Eagles' third event victory of the week and a tremendous overall performance on the final day of competition Saturday, Feb. 25.
The Green and White's 600 points marks EMU's highest point total since the Eagles scored 665 en route to the MAC crown in 2007. Eastern finished second to Akron (750), while Buffalo (573.5) rounded out the top-three.
The championship heats began with the 1650 Freestyle, where sophomore Nicole Swartz (Dayton, Ohio-Centerville) became the fifth Eagle in program history to win the MAC title. Swartz turned in a career-best, shaving more than 24 seconds off her previous best, clocking in with a time of 16:20.08. Swartz is the first Eagle to win the event since Michelle Zambri did so in 2005. Additionally, Swartz's career-best mark ranks as the second-best in program history. Junior Sarah Dombkowksi (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) also placed inside the top-eight, claiming eighth with a career-best time of 16:48.88 that ranks fourth-fastest in EMU annals. Senior Mary Grace Van Allen (Indianapolis, Ind.-North Central) posted a 12th-place finish in the event, turning in a season-best time of 17:07.93.
The Eagles scored major points in the 200 Backstroke, behind a mix of veterans and freshmen. Hot off a 100 Backstroke title last night, senior Alexis Mitcheltree (Moon Twp., Pa.-Moon Area) secured a fourth-place finish to pace the Green and White. Mitcheltree set the Eastern Michigan record with a career-best time of 1:56.74, while freshman Casey Gavigan (East Setauket, N.Y.-Ward Melville) was right on her heels. Gavigan clocked in two hundredths of a second behind Mitcheltree, etching her name into the EMU records book with the second-fastest time all-time, and the fastest mark by a freshman in program laurels. Fellow freshman Claire Young (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.-Grosse Pointe South) was the final Eagle to compete in the championship heat, touching in with a time of 1:58.16 to take seventh. Gavigan also cracked the EMU top-10, as her time ranked sixth all-time.
Senior Sierra Wagner (Huntsville, Texas-Huntsville) earned Eastern points in the 100 Freestyle, finishing sixth in the consolation final, and 12th overall with a career-best time of 50.52. The Huntsville, Texas native's time ranks seventh in program history.
Like Mitcheltree, sophomore Delaney Duncan (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg) entered the evening having already won one event. Duncan returned to the pool in the 200 Breaststroke finals and did not disappoint, clocking in with a career-best time of 2:14.01, the third-fastest time in Eastern Michigan history, en route to a fourth-place finish. Senior Genna Worthley (Portland, Maine-Deering) added a 13th-place finish, clocking in with a time of 2:18.92.
In the 200 Butterfly, senior Carly Jackson (La Porte, Ind.-La Porte) and sophomore Emilie Desnoyers secured a pair of top-eight finishes to earn spots on the podium. Jackson took home third with a time of 1:59.88, while Desnoyers notched a seventh-place finish. Desnoyers touched in with a career-best time of 2:01.62, the eighth-ranked time in EMU history.
Eastern Michigan's talented diving squad displayed its depth on the 3-meter, just as it has all season long. As a group, the Green and White placed five divers inside the top-16. Junior Molly Miller (Farmington Hills, Mich.-Harrison) led the way, placing fifth with the best score of her career. Just behind Miller's 287.50 point total was freshman standout Brielle Johnston (Ottawa, Ontario-Catholique Franco-Quest), who scored 285.40. Junior Alli Shereda (Fraser, Mich.-Fraser) wrapped up seventh-place with a score of 282.80, while sophomore Gabrielle Mace, freshman Sophia Tsafantakis (Washington, Mich.-Romeo), and junior Emily Tubbs (Monroe, Mich.-Monroe) also turned in impressive scores. Mace bested her career-best by nearly 20 points and finished third in the consolation final, and 11th overall. Tsafantakis turned in a career-best score of 273.35 as the 12th-place finisher, while Tubbs nabbed a 16th-place finish with 257.25 points.
Eastern closed out the meet with a fourth-place finish in the 400 Free Relay, where the Green and White clocked in with a season-best time of 3:21.87.
At the conclusion of the meet, Eastern Michigan saw Head Diving Coach Buck Smith honored as the MAC Diving Coach of the Year. EMU also had five swimmers reel in All-MAC honors. Mitcheltree, Duncan, and Swartz were named First Team All-MAC, while Van Allen and Young were Second Team All-MAC honorees.
Final Team Standings
1. Akron, 750
2. Eastern Michigan, 600
3. Buffalo, 573.5
4. Miami, 560
5. Ohio, 304
6. Bowling Green, 294
7. Toledo, 240
8. Ball State, 161.5
EMU Individual Results
*Denotes season-best
#Denotes career-best
%Denotes program record
1650 Free
1. Nicole Swartz 16:20.08#
6. Sarah Dombkowski 16:48.88#
12. Mary Grace Van Allen 17:07.93*
200 Back
4. Alexis Mitcheltree 1:56.74#%
5. Casey Gavigan 1:56.76#
7. Claire Young 1:58.16
12. Erika Guenther 2:01.40*
100 Free
12. Sierra Wagner 50.52#
200 Breast
4. Delaney Duncan 2:14.01#
13. Genna Worthley 2:18.92
200 Fly
3. Carly Jackson 1:59.88
7. Emilie Desnoyers 2:01.62
3-meter
5. Molly Miller 287.50#
6. Brielle Johnston 285.40
7. Alli Shereda 282.80
11. Gabrielle Mace 284.85#
12. Sophia Tsafantakis 273.35#
16. Emily Tubbs 257.25
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's swimming and diving team finished runner-up at the Mid-American Conference Championships with a total of 600 points, behind the Eagles' third event victory of the week and a tremendous overall performance on the final day of competition Saturday, Feb. 25.
The Green and White's 600 points marks EMU's highest point total since the Eagles scored 665 en route to the MAC crown in 2007. Eastern finished second to Akron (750), while Buffalo (573.5) rounded out the top-three.
The championship heats began with the 1650 Freestyle, where sophomore Nicole Swartz (Dayton, Ohio-Centerville) became the fifth Eagle in program history to win the MAC title. Swartz turned in a career-best, shaving more than 24 seconds off her previous best, clocking in with a time of 16:20.08. Swartz is the first Eagle to win the event since Michelle Zambri did so in 2005. Additionally, Swartz's career-best mark ranks as the second-best in program history. Junior Sarah Dombkowksi (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) also placed inside the top-eight, claiming eighth with a career-best time of 16:48.88 that ranks fourth-fastest in EMU annals. Senior Mary Grace Van Allen (Indianapolis, Ind.-North Central) posted a 12th-place finish in the event, turning in a season-best time of 17:07.93.
The Eagles scored major points in the 200 Backstroke, behind a mix of veterans and freshmen. Hot off a 100 Backstroke title last night, senior Alexis Mitcheltree (Moon Twp., Pa.-Moon Area) secured a fourth-place finish to pace the Green and White. Mitcheltree set the Eastern Michigan record with a career-best time of 1:56.74, while freshman Casey Gavigan (East Setauket, N.Y.-Ward Melville) was right on her heels. Gavigan clocked in two hundredths of a second behind Mitcheltree, etching her name into the EMU records book with the second-fastest time all-time, and the fastest mark by a freshman in program laurels. Fellow freshman Claire Young (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.-Grosse Pointe South) was the final Eagle to compete in the championship heat, touching in with a time of 1:58.16 to take seventh. Gavigan also cracked the EMU top-10, as her time ranked sixth all-time.
Senior Sierra Wagner (Huntsville, Texas-Huntsville) earned Eastern points in the 100 Freestyle, finishing sixth in the consolation final, and 12th overall with a career-best time of 50.52. The Huntsville, Texas native's time ranks seventh in program history.
Like Mitcheltree, sophomore Delaney Duncan (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg) entered the evening having already won one event. Duncan returned to the pool in the 200 Breaststroke finals and did not disappoint, clocking in with a career-best time of 2:14.01, the third-fastest time in Eastern Michigan history, en route to a fourth-place finish. Senior Genna Worthley (Portland, Maine-Deering) added a 13th-place finish, clocking in with a time of 2:18.92.
In the 200 Butterfly, senior Carly Jackson (La Porte, Ind.-La Porte) and sophomore Emilie Desnoyers secured a pair of top-eight finishes to earn spots on the podium. Jackson took home third with a time of 1:59.88, while Desnoyers notched a seventh-place finish. Desnoyers touched in with a career-best time of 2:01.62, the eighth-ranked time in EMU history.
Eastern Michigan's talented diving squad displayed its depth on the 3-meter, just as it has all season long. As a group, the Green and White placed five divers inside the top-16. Junior Molly Miller (Farmington Hills, Mich.-Harrison) led the way, placing fifth with the best score of her career. Just behind Miller's 287.50 point total was freshman standout Brielle Johnston (Ottawa, Ontario-Catholique Franco-Quest), who scored 285.40. Junior Alli Shereda (Fraser, Mich.-Fraser) wrapped up seventh-place with a score of 282.80, while sophomore Gabrielle Mace, freshman Sophia Tsafantakis (Washington, Mich.-Romeo), and junior Emily Tubbs (Monroe, Mich.-Monroe) also turned in impressive scores. Mace bested her career-best by nearly 20 points and finished third in the consolation final, and 11th overall. Tsafantakis turned in a career-best score of 273.35 as the 12th-place finisher, while Tubbs nabbed a 16th-place finish with 257.25 points.
Eastern closed out the meet with a fourth-place finish in the 400 Free Relay, where the Green and White clocked in with a season-best time of 3:21.87.
At the conclusion of the meet, Eastern Michigan saw Head Diving Coach Buck Smith honored as the MAC Diving Coach of the Year. EMU also had five swimmers reel in All-MAC honors. Mitcheltree, Duncan, and Swartz were named First Team All-MAC, while Van Allen and Young were Second Team All-MAC honorees.
Final Team Standings
1. Akron, 750
2. Eastern Michigan, 600
3. Buffalo, 573.5
4. Miami, 560
5. Ohio, 304
6. Bowling Green, 294
7. Toledo, 240
8. Ball State, 161.5
EMU Individual Results
*Denotes season-best
#Denotes career-best
%Denotes program record
1650 Free
1. Nicole Swartz 16:20.08#
6. Sarah Dombkowski 16:48.88#
12. Mary Grace Van Allen 17:07.93*
200 Back
4. Alexis Mitcheltree 1:56.74#%
5. Casey Gavigan 1:56.76#
7. Claire Young 1:58.16
12. Erika Guenther 2:01.40*
100 Free
12. Sierra Wagner 50.52#
200 Breast
4. Delaney Duncan 2:14.01#
13. Genna Worthley 2:18.92
200 Fly
3. Carly Jackson 1:59.88
7. Emilie Desnoyers 2:01.62
3-meter
5. Molly Miller 287.50#
6. Brielle Johnston 285.40
7. Alli Shereda 282.80
11. Gabrielle Mace 284.85#
12. Sophia Tsafantakis 273.35#
16. Emily Tubbs 257.25
Players Mentioned
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
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Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Back/Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Back/IM
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