Ohio Athletic Conference Championships: Day Two

AKRON, Ohio, February 15. OHIO Northern's men maintained a big lead over the field at the end of Day 2 competition of the OAC Swimming and Diving Championships at University of Akron's Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium.

The Polar Bears enter the final day of competition with 206 points, and are followed in the team standings by Baldwin-Wallace (139), Mount Union (107), John Carroll (73) and Wilmington (53).

One record fell during Friday's competition as Baldwin-Wallace freshman Todd Richert shattered the 1-meter diving record by scoring 510.20 points. The previous mark of 507.80 was set by Mount Union's Brandon Smith in 2001.

Baldwin-Wallace opened the night with a win in the 200 medley relay as Vince Colwell, Ryan Musille, Matt Diamond and Mike Demitrieff edged Ohio Northern.

Mount Union's Mike Kuzma breezed to a win in the 400 IM, touching in 4:18.60, 3.44 seconds ahead of Baldwin-Wallace's Hector Diaz.

Ohio Northern's Michael Schultz continued a solid championship, winning the 100 butterfly in 52.36, nipping BW's Matt Diamond by 0.45 second.

Sean Sonnenberg, the 2007 runner-up in the 200 freestyle, claimed the 2008 championship, edging Ohio Northern's Brett Kuhn by 0.08 second.

Another 2007 runner-up, Mount Union's Jeff Budzowski, won the 100 breaststroke, a 0.41 second win over Ohio Northern's Mike Anderson.

Baldwin-Wallace's Vince Colwell captured his first OAC 100 backstroke championship, touching in 54.57 to beat Mount Union's Dan Hampu by 0.68 second.

Ohio Northern closed Day 2 with a win in the 800 freestyle relay. Michael Schultz, Casey Davis, Andrew Stephon and Garrett Dauch finished in 7:13.39.

John Carroll and the women of Ohio Northern continued their air-tight battle during Day 2 competition. John Carroll brought a three-point lead over ONU into Friday's action, and will take a four-point advantage into Saturday's competition.

The Blue Streaks lead with 176 points to Northern's 172. Mount Union is third with 94, and is followed by Baldwin-Wallace (71) and Wilmington (68).

The Polar Bears opened the session by breaking their own 200 medley relay record of 2007. Lacey Shumate, Hannah Bukowy, Katherine Moore and Cassandra Fennell touched in 151.00, 0.56 better than last year's effort and 1.89 seconds ahead of runner-up John Carroll.

The Blue Streaks ended the night by shattering their own 800 freestyle record. Heidi Benson, Liana Sved, Katie Mathews and Heather Gilmour finished in 8:05.82, breaking the 2005 record of 8:07.44.

Northern's Lacey Shumate won her second straight 400 IM title with a time of 4:48.33.

Ohio Northern's Katherine Moore won by nearly a second in the 100 butterfly, touching in 1:00.17.

John Carroll's Heather Gilmour continued her dominance in the 200 freestyle, winning the event for the third consecutive season. Gilmour won in 1:57.06, just under three seconds ahead of ONU's Kim Randall.

Hannah Bukowy gave Ohio Northern its fourth straight 100 breaststroke championship and a new record, with a winning time of 1:07.18. Wilmington's Kacie Otting was second in 1:09.10.

Northern's Jillian Huber and Cassandra Fennell went 1-2 in the 100 backstroke. Huber won her second OAC 100 backstroke title in 1:01.77.

Mount Union freshman Mary Vallinger out-pointed John Carroll's Lauren Singley for the 3-meter diving title. Vallinger finished with 392.92 points while Singley totatled 344.95.

Special thanks to Wilmington for contributing this report.

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