Ohio vs. Akron

AKRON, Ohio, October 31. THE UA swimming and diving team used a string of career best performances and nine first place finishes in tonight's contest to defeat MAC favorite Ohio University, 150-132. Akron and Ohio were tied at 65 points a piece heading into the 1-meter diving events before claiming a lead they would not relinquish. Akron stretched a seven-point lead to eighteen to edge the Bobcats with a final score of 150-132 in the evening's contest.

"I'm extremely happy with the effort we displayed today. We put up some great times today and I credit the team for coming out to race," said head Coach Nittaya Klim regarding the team's performance.

Ohio University were first to score in the meet clinching first place in the 200-yard medley relay (1:48.70) while the Akron "A" team comprised of Kendall Karchner, Cheri Baratto, Jessica Ickes and Stephanie Zielinski followed in second place (1:49.08). Freshman Meghan Bowling set a lifetime best time in the 1000-yard freestyle event with a 10:22.58 mark en route to a second place finish behind OU's Amanda Cecere (10:22.34).

Shortly after, Cathryn Collins would earn the first of nine first place finishes for the Zips as she tapped the wall first in the 200-yard freestyle event (1:52.15). Junior Julia Gregos finished behind Collins in 3rd place with a 1:56.85 timestamp.

Junior Kendall Karchner dominated both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events with a pair of 1st place finishes (58.54, 2:07.08) while newcomer Kerry Wanstreet earned herself third and four place finishes in both events respectively (1:00.96, 2:12.04).

With the meet tied heading into the 1-Meter diving event, the UA divers would set the pace for the rest of the meet as they vaulted for the lead. Akron divers would clinch two out of three top spots to take the initial seven-point lead over Ohio. Katie Carter and Jayne Malloy landed in 1st (269.80) and 3rd place (217.35) to provide that edge. The duo would collaborate for the same result in the 3-Meter event as Carter claimed 1st place (301.65) while Malloy secured 3rd (226.12).

Zielinski ended the evening with a pair of top finishes in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events (23.67, 52.47). Newcomer Ickes continued to establish herself as a prominent swimmer for the Zips notching a pair of 3rd place finishes in both events.

In the butterfly events, senior Emily Bulkowski led the Zips with a 1st place finish in the 200-yard portion (2:06.60) and a 2nd place finish in the 100-yard contest (58.08) while junior Kylie Bombrys added a pair of third place finishes in both events (59.47, 2:13.39) to assist Akron to victory.

Bulkowski also set a new lifetime best mark in the 400-yard individual medley finishing in second (4:36.94) with Julie Reynolds trailed in 3rd (4:27.90).

Coach Klim added that, "today was a good measuring stick for us. It shows us what we did well and what we need to work on to improve."

The Zips return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. as they face Miami University in Ocasek Natatorium.

Special thanks to Akron for contributing this report.

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