Berger Wins 1-Meter Title on First Day of MAC Championships

Prelim Results | Finals Results

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University diving senior Bethany Berger (Batavia, Ohio-Glen Este) captured the 1-meter diving crown as the EMU swimming and diving team completed its first day of the Mid-American Conference Championships, April 15, at Jones Natatorium.

Capturing her first MAC individual championship, Berger won both the preliminary and final round of 1-meter diving, scoring 298.60 and 303.90 to earn the title.

In the morning preliminaries, Eastern saw three Eagles claim spots in the evening's final session. Seniors Abby Rapien (Cincinnati, Ohio-Taylor) and Riley Hofmann (Ada, Mich.-Forest Hills Central) posted season-best swims of 4:56.58 and 4:56.75, respectively, to earn spots in the 500 freestyle consolation final, while sophomore Lainie Bell (Atlanta, Ga.-Druid Hills) swam a career-best 23.58 in the 50 free for her spot in the consolation final.

The morning session also saw three additional Eagles post season-best swims in the 50 free, in freshmen Katie Shoen (Owego, N.Y.-Owego Free Academy) (24.21) and Abbey Whipple (State College, Penn.-State College Area) (24.41), and sophomore Carlin Hudson (Chattanooga, Tenn.-Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences) (24.38).

Shifting to diving in the early afternoon, all three EMU divers qualified for the 1-meter finals after strong prelim showings. Berger finished at the top of the field with a 298.60, while classmate Micaela Schempf (Bowling Green, Ohio-Bowling Green) was second with her score of 279.45. Freshman Camryn Hughes (London, Ontario-Sir Frederick Banting Secondary) rounded out the finalists with an eighth-place finish at 249.60.

In the finals, Hofmann finished second in the 500 free consolation final, recording a new season-best time with a 4:54.50 showing. Rapien finished seventh in the heat with a 4:57.59. Bell finished eighth in the 50 free consolation with a 23.80 mark.

Berger finished the first day of action on a high note, as the senior earned the title of MAC 1-meter diving champion with her score of 303.90. Schempf finished third with her mark of 289.20, while Hughes ended in seventh at 260.20.

Day two of the MAC Championships will take place tomorrow, April 16, beginning with preliminaries at 10:30 a.m. Diving preliminaries will take place at approximately 2:30 p.m., and the finals for both swim and dive will begin at 6 p.m.

To stay up to date on all things EMU swim and dive, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMUSwimDive.

MAC Championships Day 1 Results
Jones Natatorium | April 15, 2021

Team Scores
1. Buffalo - 239
2. Akron - 235
3. Miami - 148
4. Ohio - 114
5. Eastern Michigan - 104
t6. Toledo - 85
t6. Bowling Green - 85
8. Ball State - 82

500 Freestyle Preliminaries
10. Abby Rapien – 4:56.58
11. Riley Hofmann – 4:56.75

50 Freestyle Preliminaries
16. Lainie Bell – 23.58
23. Meike Staffeldt – 23.78
29. Katie Shoen – 24.21
32. Carlin Hudson – 24.38
33. Abbey Whipple – 24.41
38. Abigail Wenger – 25.20

1-meter Diving Preliminaries
1. Bethany Berger – 298.60
2. Micaela Schempf – 279.45
8. Camryn Hughes – 249.60

200 Freestyle Relay
8. Eastern Michigan – 1:35.36
Bell, Hudson, Whipple, Shoen

500 Freestyle Consolation Final
2. Riley Hofmann - 4:54.50
7. Abby Rapien – 4:57.59

50 Freestyle Consolation Final
8. Lainie Bell – 23.80

1-Meter Diving Finals
1. Bethany Berger – 303.90
3. Micaela Schempf – 289.20
7. Camryn Hughes – 260.20

400 Medley Relay
7. Eastern Michigan - 3:44.86
Bell, Whitehead, Staver, Staffeldt

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lainie Bell

Bethany Berger

Riley Hofmann

Carlin Hudson

Camryn Hughes

Abby Rapien

Micaela Schempf

Katie Shoen

Meike Staffeldt

Abigail Wenger

Abbey Whipple

Eastern Michigan Athletics