NCAA Div. III: Ho-Hum, Kenyon Sweeps North Coast Conference Again

CANTON, Ohio, Feb. 12. THE KENYON COLLEGE women posted eight first-place finishes and eight seconds on the way to their 17th consecutive team title at the North Coast Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships, which were held Feb. 8-10 at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio. The Ladies have won all 17 NCAC championships and 25 straight conference (or state) crowns overall.

Kenyon won eight individual events and recorded a total of 23 top-three performances to compile 1,601 points. Denison picked up wins in seven individual events and three of five relays for 1,555 points and its 10th consecutive (13th overall) second-place finish. Wooster totaled 1093.5 points to place third for the fourth year in a row and eighth time overall.

Denison sophomore Tamara Carty (Saginaw, MI/Heritage) earned Swimmer of the Year honors for the second time after she won both the 500- and 1650-yard freestyles for the second straight year, and broke her own NCAC mark in the 1650. She also placed third in the 400 individual medley.

Other double winners were Kenyon senior Erica Carroll (Flushing, NY/Townsend), and freshman Beth Galloway (Orchard Park, NY), Denison senior Katie Sprague (Columbus, OH/Thomas Kilbourne) and Allegheny freshman Kelley Anderson (Beaver, PA/Beaver). Carroll claimed the 100-yard backstroke and successfully defended her crown and broke her own conference record in the 200-yard backstroke. Galloway dominated the sprints, winning both the 50- and 100-yard freestyles. Sprague won the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard breaststroke. Anderson dominated the diving, winning both events by an average of 68 points, and was voted Diver of the Year.

Wittenberg coach Robert Rueppel was voted Coach of the Year after guiding the Tigers to a fourth-place finish, up from sixth in 2000. Allegheny's Tim Kuzma was voted Diving Coach of the Year for the fourth straight year.

THE KENYON men won 14 events and recorded 10 second-place finishes to successfully defend their team title at the North Coast Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships, which were held Feb. 8-10 at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio. The Lords, who have claimed 21 consecutive NCAA Division III titles, have won 16 of 17 NCAC crowns and 47 of their last 48 conference championship meets.

Kenyon totaled 1,623.5 points to defeat perennial runner-up Denison, which recorded seven second-place finishes on the way to 1,392.5 points and its 15th second-place finish. Wabash placed third for the second consecutive season with 860 points. Wittenberg compiled 805.5 points to place fourth, up from sixth last year, followed by Allegheny (798), Wooster (650), Ohio Wesleyan (598.5), Oberlin (426) and Hiram (263) in positions five through nine, respectively.

Seven different swimmers won 10 individual events for the champions. The Lords were led by senior Lloyd Baron (Holland, MI/Christian), who won three events en route to earning Swimmer of the Year honors. Baron won the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, and the 100-yard butterfly, and set an NCAC mark in the 100 free. Junior Michael Bonomo (University Heights, OH/St. Ignatius) was a double winner for Kenyon. He won the 1650 free and the 500 free for the second consecutive season.

Allegheny sophomore John Hreha (Pittsburgh, PA/ Chartiers Valley) earned Diver of the Year honors for the second time after he dominated the 1- and 3-meter diving for the second straight year. Hreha won the events by an average of 101 points.

Wittenberg's Robert Rueppel was voted Coach of the Year after he guided the Tigers to a fourth-place finish, up from sixth last year, and coached two individual event champions. Tim Kuzma of Allegheny was voted Diving Coach of the Year for the third straight year.

TEAM SCORES: WOMEN
1. Kenyon College (KEN) ………….. 1,601
2. Denison University (DEN) ………. 1,555
3. College of Wooster (WOO) ………. 1.093.5
4. Wittenberg University (WIT) ……. 770
5. Allegheny College (ALL) ……….. 670
6. Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU)….. 583.5
7. Oberlin College (OBE) …………. 366
8. Hiram College (HIR) …………… 298

TEAM SCORES: MEN
1. Kenyon College (KEN)………….. 1,623.5
2. Denison University (DEN) ……… 1,392.5
3. Wittenberg University (WIT) …… 860
4. Wabash College (WAB) …………. 805
5. Allegheny College (ALL) ………. 798
6. Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) … 650
7. College of Wooster (WOO) ……… 598
8. Oberlin College (OBE) ………… 426
9. Hiram College (HIR) ………….. 263

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