Oklahoma Baptist Strong on Night One of NAIA Championships

By Rebecca Noblett

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Marcy 6. Hosts and reigning men’s and women’s champions Oklahoma Baptist charged to the lead on the first night of NAIA National Championships. The Bison won seven events tonight and both diving events yesterday.

Oklahoma Baptist’s Kristen Brimage defended her NAIA title in the 1 meter springboard with a score of 248.85. Her teammate Tara DeWall placed second with 210.30 points. Cumberlands’ Michelle McDonald took third with a score of 206.55.

On the men’s 3 meter springboard, Oklahoma Baptist swept the podium. Mark Pontier took first with a score of 192.55 points. Jarod Haynes placed second with 180.60 points, with Adam Cribbs scoring 125.95 to take third.

Oklahoma Baptist continued their victorious run from last night’s diving in the 200 medley relay. The women’s team of Lisa MacManus (25.43), Kerryn Mullin (28.75), Laura Galarza (24.22), and Emma Forbes-Milne (23.25) posted a 1:41.65 for the title. Olivet Nazarene’s team of MacKenzie Anderson (26.46), Sydney Harris (29.28), Kara De Long (25.79), and Kelsey Weener (23.60) took second with a 1:45.49. Union College’s Eliska Melicharova (27.46), Kasey McCormick (29.93), Anna Kotliarova (26.04), and Callie Harrigan (23.06) touched third with a time of 1:46.49.

The Oklahoma Baptist men set a new meet record in the 200 medley, with the team of Daniel Ramirez (22.09), Gregory Penny (24.45), Garland Sullivan (21.10), and Logan Lassley (19.19) clocking in at 1:26.83. SCAD’s Karl Hegwein (23.27), Styrbjorn Torell (25.30), Mark Shvartsman (21.10), and Pat Cardillo (19.16) posted a 1:28.83 for second. Olivet Nazarene’s team of Jacob Anderson (22.83), Matthew Prasser (25.39), Simon Pheasant (21.87), and Ty Jacobs (19.93) rounded out the podium with a time of 1:30.02.

Brenau’s Courtney Hayward won the 500 free for the women, posting a winning time of 4:58.42. SCAD’s Caroline Lepesant touched in 5:00.91 for second, while Olivet Nazarene’s Sam Elam clocked in at 5:04.81 for third place.

For the men, Joel Ax of SCAD took home the title, winning the 500 free with a time of 4:25.67. Andrew Fischer of Olivet Nazarene hit the wall in 4:31.56 for second, just ahead of Union’s Bradley Moore, who posted a 4:31.82.

The women’s 200 IM title went to Biola’s Christine Tixier, who put up a 2:04.48 to win the final. Cumberlands’ Charlotte Parent took second with a 2:05.80, while SCAD’s Hannah Legg touched in 2:07.26 for third.

Olivet Nazarene took the top two spots in the men’s 200 IM. Jacob Anderson swam to victory with a 1:49.86, just ahead of teammate Aaron Buchanan, who touched in 1:50.07. Oklahoma Baptist’s Daniel Robbins rounded out the podium with a 1:50.61.

Laura Galarza of Oklahoma Baptist successfully defended her 50 free title, with a winning time of 22.86. Concordia’s Brooke Roy took second with a time of 23.09. Galarza’s teammate Emma Forbes-Milne placed third with a time of 23.37.

Oklahoma Baptist’s Logan Lassley set an NAIA championship record in the men’s 50 free, posting a winning time of 19.71. His teammate Garland Sullivan touched second with a 20.21, just ahead of SCAD’s Pat Cardillo (20.31).

The Bison continued their winning ways with a sweep of the men’s 1 meter diving. Jarod Haynes took home the title with a score of 206.30. Mark Pontier posted 180.45 points for second, with Adam Cribbs (165.55 points) rounding out the top three.

Oklahoma Baptist put up a commanding time to win the 800 free relay, with the team of Laura Galarza (1:51.71), Lexie Keller (1:53.74), Yulia Lapshova (1:56.74), and Ines Remersaro (1:56.02) posting a 7:38.21 for the win. Brenau’s Shelby Rumker (1:56.10), Mary Katherine Jabbia (1:58.86), Michelle Billeaud (1:57.65), and Courtney Hayward (1:51.94) clocked in at 7:44.55 for second. They just touched out SCAD’s team of Caroline Lepesant (1:54.98), Hannah Legg (1:56.14), Emma McKinley (1:59.63), and Haley Thompson (1:53.83), who hit the wall in 7:44.58.

The final event of the night saw another meet record, this time for SCAD. The Bees’ 800 free relay team of Joel Ax (1:38.29), Pat Cardillo (1:38.14), Ryan Searles (1:39.12), and Mark Shvartsman (1:39.43) posted a 6:34.98 for first place. Oklahoma Baptist took second, with the team of Javier Sossa (1:40.39), Daniel Ramirez (1:37.79), Gilles Cantrelle (1:39.63), and Tim Richard (1:38.37) clocking in at 6:36.18, also under the old meet record time. Olivet Nazarene’s team of Simon Pheasant (1:39.83), Jacob Anderson (1:40.09), Joshua Lercel (1:37.85), and Andrew Fischer (1:41.82) finished out the podium with a time of 6:39.59.

Oklahoma Baptist’s men sit first in the team rankings after the first full day of competition with 301 points. Olivet Nazarene are second with 167 points, followed by SCAD with 157 points. On the women’s side, Oklahoma Baptist leads as well with 267 points. SCAD sit in second place with 158 points, followed closely by Olivet Nazarene with 150 points.

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