North Coast Athletic Conference Championships, Day Three

CANTON, Ohio, February 12. DENISON University men and women captured their third-consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships at the 27th annual event, hosted by the Big Red at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio. The Big Red women, who estalished a meet record after winning 19 out of a possible 20 events, totaled 1,829 points, while the men earned the victory with 1,774.5 points.

Kenyon was second in the women’s standings with 1,482 points, followed by Allegheny (944), Wooster (857), Wittenberg (792), Oberlin (627), Ohio Wesleyan (435) and Hiram (298). On the men’s side, Kenyon was also second with 1,572.5 points, followed by Wabash (805), Wittenberg (691), Wooster (671.5), Oberlin (659), Allegheny (633), Ohio Wesleyan (398) and Hiram (334.5).

Denison sophomore Quinn Bartlett (Berwyn, PA/Conestoga) sparked the Big Red’s evening by setting a meet record and qualifying for the national championship in the 200 backstroke (1:47.85), while Denison senior Ksenia Golovkina (Newton, MA/Newton South) set a new meet standard in the 200 breaststroke, touching first in an NCAA “A”-cut qualifying time of 2:16.40. Kenyon sophomore Hannah Saiz (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh Senior) collected an NCAC meet record for the Ladies in the 200 butterfly after finishing first and qualifying for the national championship with a time of 2:01.80.

In women’s action, the Big Red had three additional swimmers qualify for the national championships on Saturday evening, including junior Hilary Callen (Oswego, NY/Oswego) in the 1650 freestyle (16:59.25), Emily Schroeder (Fishers, IN/ Hamilton Southeastern) in the 200 backstroke (2:00.99) and sophomore Lindsay Zeberlein (Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista) in the 200 backstroke (2:02.54). Kenyon also had two swimmers earn NCAA “A”-cut standards, including senior Kati Meirs (Cream Ridge, NJ/Peddie) in the 1650 freestyle (17:01.11) and freshman Mary Bank (Union, KY/Ryle) in the 200 backstroke (2:02.68). The Big Red 400 freestyle relay team also qualified for the national championships after winning the event in a time of 3:25.40.

On the men’s side, the Big Red earnd NCAA “A” standards in three individual events, including freshman Al Weik (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) in the 1650 freestyle (15:32.02), junior Robert Barry (Richmond, VA/St. Christopher’s School) in the 200 backstroke (1:49.55) and senior Jake Lewing (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) in the 200 breaststroke (2:02.74). Both the Denison and Kenyon 400 freestyle relay teams earned NCAA “A” cut times after finishing one and two in the event, respectively. The Big Red touched first in a time of 3:00.16 and the Lords finished a close second with a time of 3:00.62.

In addition, one night after earning its first-ever individual title at the NCAC Championships, Wabash College collected its second individual championship after senior David Birrer (Indianapolis, IN/Brownsburg) touched first in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:51.64.

Golovkina was voted the Female Swimmer of the Year after setting new meet records and qualifying for the national championships in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events. Denison senior Lizzie Litwak (Loudonville, NY/Albany Academy for Girls) was named the 2011 NCAC Female Diver of the Year after finishing first on the three-meter board with a score of 370.45 and third on the one-meter board with a score of 342.35.

Weik was tabbed the Male Swimmer of the Year after posting individual victories in the 500 and 1650 freestyle events. Big Red sophomore Gabe Dixon (New Albany, OH/New Albany) claimed the 2011 NCAC Male Diver of the Year award after finishing first on both the one and three meter boards. He earned a score of 543.20 on the one-meter board and a mark of 527.75 on the three-meter board.

Denison’s Greg Parini was recognized as the men’s Swimming Coach of the Year, while first-year Allegheny Head Coach Erin Detwiler was named the Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year after leading the Gators to a third-place finish. Parini, in his 23rd year at the helm of the Denison men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs, collected his fifth male coach of the year award and 13th overall after guiding the Big Red to their third-straight NCAC title.

Denison’s Jason Glorius was named both the men’s and women’s Diving Coach of the Year after guiding the Big Red to victories in all four diving events in just his second year with the program. He earned his second straight women’s coaching award.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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