The Observer, November 17, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 11
Spartan swimmers keep pace with bigger schools at CSU meet
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The Case men's and women's swim teams traveled down the road to the Busbey Natatorium last Friday for the Cleveland City College Meet. The Spartan women triumphed over Oberlin, 132-71, but dropped close dual meets to Baldwin-Wallace (118-111), Cleveland State (108-95), and Gannon (122-99). The Spartan men also defeated Oberlin 171-43 and squeaked out a 120-101 win over BW. CSU (186-49) and Gannon (140.5-97.5) similarly stymied the men's team.
Junior Lauren Preyss again led the way on the women's side, winning three individual events. Preyss set a new school record in the 200-yard individual medley (2:11.41) before winning the 100-yard freestyle (52.53) and 100-yard backstroke (1:02.28) back-to-back.
"I thought the meet on Friday went really well," said Preyss. "Of the five teams there, we were by far the most supportive of one another, and forming that closeness now is going to reflect in our swims at the end of the season."
Having transferred to Case from Penn State, Preyss is thankful that she has been able to make a smooth transition.
"I am just grateful to be swimming and competing. It had been a long time since I had raced, and it feels good to be competitive again," she said. "Coming from Division I to Division III was, at first, a big adjustment for me, but I'm really enjoying being a part of this team. It's a great feeling when you find yourself smiling walking into practice. The coaches, my new teammates, they're all great. I got lucky."
Also on the women's side, sophomore Betsy Howe started off the meet with the fastest backstroke split (29.90) in the women's 400-yard medley relay. The squad of Howe, senior Carrie Stoila, sophomore Lisa McHale, and junior Becca Winarski went on to place third with a time of 1:56.29. Winarski (26.24) and McHale (26.34) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the women's 50-yard freestyle, and McHale also placed third in the 100-yard butterfly (1:02.27). Sophomore Janine Machala took fourth in the women's 100-yard breaststroke (1:12.28), and Winarski, junior Heather Furman, senior Camilla Cullis, and freshman Chrissy Petzold combined to finish third in the women's 200-yard freestyle relay (1:46.20).
For the men's team, freshman Drew Swartz, grad student Pat Rodjom, freshman Jerry Lin, and freshman Dan Wolak placed fourth in the men's 200-yard medley relay (1:38.80). Sophomore Nate Avers (11:00.67) and freshman Edward McKee (11:01.09) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 1000-yard freestyle. Senior John Erickson (22.28) and Wolak (22.53) also placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 50-yard freestyle. In addition, Erickson took third in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.34.
"I did a great job of attacking the first half of my swims at Friday night's meet," said Erickson. "I was just tired bringing it home. Because of this, my times were about the same as they have been this season. The team swam well despite being broken down from a hard week of practice and up against competition from Division I and II schools."
Later in the meet, the Case men went two-three-four-six in the 100-yard breaststroke. Rodjom placed second, posting a NCAA Division III "B" cut with a time of 58.43. Lin (1:01.92), Wolak (1:03.95), and junior Drew Kouri (1:04.96) rounded out the Spartan assault. Freshman Barak Daon, freshman Bryan Saltzman, sophomore Brian Grady, and Erickson placed fifth in the final event of the meet, the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:31.42). The Spartan swimmers travel to Gambier, Ohio tomorrow to take on Washington and Jefferson, Grove City, and Kenyon.
