Wayne State, Truman State, Ashland vs. Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, November 1. BOTH the Wayne State University men's and women's swimming and diving team came away from a two-day, four-team meet at the University of Indianapolis ahead of the other three squads, with the men achieving six new NCAA qualifying times.

On the men's side, the Warriors competed in 13 events Friday and Saturday and finished in front of the host Greyhounds as well as Ashland and Truman State.

Among Friday's highlights was Jesper Akesson's (Malmo, Sweden) first-place time of 46.96 in the 100 freestyle, good for an NCAA "B" qualifier.

Sean Smith (Auburn, Mich./Bay City Western) and Jimmy Lee (Windsor, Ont./Riverside) went one-two in the 100 backstroke with respective times of 1:49.81 and 1:54.98. Smith improved upon his "B" qualifier in the event.

The 400 medley relay of Smith, Akesson, Lee, and Cauli Bedran (Rio de Janiero, Brazil) finished second (3:31.13), as did the 200 free relay (1:24.87) of Akesson, Bedran, Alex Davidson (Napoleon, Mich./Jackson), and Sebastian Rzepa (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley).

Fernando Costa (Porto, Portugal) won the 500 free (4:38.26) and came in second in the 200 free (1:44.95).

The Warriors won seven events and reached four NCAA cuts as action continued Saturday. Costa's first-place time of 15:54.58 in the 1650 free secured him an NCAA "A" cut. He also won the 500 free in a time of 4:43.48.

Smith finished first and earned a "B" cut in the 200 butterfly (1:53.61), and finished second in the 200 free (1:46.51).

Akesson came in first in the 50 free (20.91) and notched a "B" cut, as did Bedran in the 100 back (52.47). Lee touched the wall just behind Bedran in second (53.83).

Rzepa won the 100 free (48.12), and the 400 free relay of Smith, Rzepa, Bedran, and Akesson placed first as well (3:07.33).

The Wayne State men will host Calvin and Denison in their first home meet of the season on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Matthaei Aquatic Center.

Meanwhile, the Wayne State women's swimming and diving team completed a strong weekend of competition at a four-team meet hosted by the University of Indianapolis.

The Warriors were ahead of Ashland and the host Greyhounds but trailing Truman State through Friday's 13 events. After Saturday's 13, however, Wayne State was in front of all three squads.

Wayne State reached four new NCAA "B" qualifying times on Friday. Elaina Hogle (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) claimed two of those, finishing second in the 100 freestyle (53.62) and third in the 200 free (1:54.36).

Ashley St. Andrew (Grand Rapids, Mich./Jenison) won the 500 free in a national "B" time of 5:11.50, and came in second in the 400 individual medley (4:42.43).

Natalia Buso (Sao Paulo, Brazil) improved upon her previous "B" qualifier with a third-place time of 10:41.29 in the 1000 free. Courtney Roberts (Milan, Mich.) placed second in the 200 breaststroke (2:27.25), and the 400 medley relay of Sara Franklin (Caro, Mich.), Roberts, Hogle, and Julie Danaher (Allen Park, Mich.) finished second (4:00.78).

The Warriors registered five more national cuts in Saturday's action, highlighted by the 200 medley relay of Franklin, Roberts, Agata Zalewska (Swietochlowice, Poland), and Danaher, which came in first with an "A" time of 1:47.67.

Roberts made a "B" cut and set a new school record in her first-place 100 breaststroke swim (1:05.71), and St. Andrew and Buso went one-two in the 1650 free (17:37.14, 17:41.39), both times good for "B" cuts. St. Andrew also won the 500 free (5:12.79).

Hogle achieved a "B" qualifier in the 200 IM (2:10.43) and improved her previous qualifying time in the 200 fly (2:07.59). She finished second in both events.

Other second-place finishers included Danaher in the 100 free (54.60), Franklin in the 100 back (1:00.18), and the 400 free relay quartet of Danaher, Abbey Green (Dearborn, Mich.), St. Andrew, and Hogle (3:38.98).

The Wayne State women will host Calvin and Denison in their first home meet of the season on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Matthaei Aquatic Center.

Special thanks to Wayne State for contributing this report.

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