Wayne State On Top at Great Lakes Championships

ASHLAND, Ohio – The Wayne State men's swimming and diving team (367 points) has a 149 point lead over host Ashland University (218) at the GLIAC Championship through Thursday's finals. The Wayne State women's swimming team also leads (253.50) with a 33.50 point lead over second-place Grand Valley State (220) at the GLIAC Championship, hosted by Ashland University.

Twelve points separates second place from fifth, as the Eagles are just five ahead of third-place Indianapolis (213). Grand Valley State (206)and Lewis (206) are in a tie for fourth, followed by Gannon (125) and Findlay (52).

In the first event of the day, the 200 freestyle relay, the combination of Tiago Oliveira (Raul Soares, Brazil), Cauli Bedran (Rio de Janiero, Brazil), Bruno Blanco (Rio de Janiero, Brazil), and Luiz Pacheco (Curitiba, Brazil) turned in a third-place time of 1:25.01.

Guilherme Veiga (Vinton, Va./William Byrd) won the 500 free in a time of 4:36.64, while Matt Leix (Flint, Mich./Southwestern) came in fourth (4:41.95). James Ekleberry (Rochester Hills, Mich./Avondale) and Sebastian Rzepa (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) rounded out the "A" final in seventh (4:45.82) and eighth (4:46.30), respectively. Justin Shields (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) finished 11th (4:48.64) in the "B" final.

A.J. Erard (Troy, Mich./Royal Oak Shrine) led the pack (ninth overall) in the "B" final of the 200 individual medley (1:57.46), and Alex Davidson (Napoleon, Mich./Jackson) came in 12th (1:58.78).

In the 50 free, its second "A" final with four representatives, the Warriors were led by Oliveira who finished second in 21.33. Bedran came in fourth (21.73), followed by Blanco in seventh (21.91) and Pacheco in eighth (21.93). Swimming in the "B" final, Christer Tour (Farsta, Sweden) came in ninth (21.90) and Per Bergstrom (Fagersta, Sweden) came in 15th (22.36).

To close out Thursday's events, Wayne State set a school record and made an NCAA "A" cut with its first-place time of 3:24.08 in the 400 medley relay.

Indianapolis is in third place (218), followed by Gannon (143), Ashland (141.50), Northern Michigan (107.50), Lewis (107.50), Hillsdale (107), and Findlay (66).

Erika Barczak (Williamston, Mich.) and Katie Rence (Portage, Mich./Central) went one-two in the one-meter diving competition, posting respective scores of 377.10 and 325.45. Venessa Torres (Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelt) came in fifth place (294.20).

In the 200 freestyle relay, the quartet of Katie Harrigan (Portage, Mich./Northern), Haintso Rakouth (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage), Elaina Hogle (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood), and Julie Danaher (Allen Park, Mich.) finished in second place (1:39.37).

Ashley St. Andrew (Grand Rapids, Mich./Jenison) broke her own school record, winning the 500 free with a time of 5:00.14. Melissa Duff (Howell, Mich./Brighton) finished fourth (5:11.04) and Maggie Young (Tecumseh, Ont./St. Anne's) came in eighth (5:21.53), while Mandy Burton (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) won the "B" final (ninth overall) in 5:15.55.

Hogle won the 200 individual medley in 2:08.63, and Harrigan rounded out the "A" final in eighth place (2:14.10). Erin Hill (Holt, Mich.) finished in 13th place (2:17.95).

In the 50 free "A" final, Danaher took fifth (24.74), and in the "B" final, Rakouth led the pack for ninth overall (25.03).

In the final event of the evening, the 400 medley relay, Wayne State came in third place (4:01.87).

Friday's preliminary round will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use