Meet of the Week Recap: Ouachita Baptist Sweeps Henderson State (M:133.5-97.5; W:133-85); Nelson Silva Puts On Show

By Jason Marsteller

ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas, October 26. IN a crosstown match-up between Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State, OBU kept bragging rights for another year with a sweep of both the men's and women's meets. The OBU men trumped Henderson State, 133.5-97.5, while the women downed HSU, 133-85. Overall, the Ouachita Baptist men claimed eight titles, while Henderson State won five. The OBU women won in similar fashion, owning an 8-4 advantage in event wins.

OBU's Nelson Silva was the star of the meet for the men with three titles, as well as a pair of NCAA cuts. First, he automatically qualified in the 100 back with a smoking time of 50.78, while also showing some versatility with a 1000 free B-cut time of 9:36.56. He also helped the 200 medley relay team of Silva (23.56), Hal Eubanks (26.98), Daniel Karkoska (23.30) and Ryan Rundle (22.42) to a win in 1:36.26.

Teammate Radu Badalac scored a pair of B-cuts. He won the 200 free (1:43.81) and cleared the 50 free provisional mark in 21.16 en route to the 200 freestyle relay triumph of Badalac (21.16), Paden Fontenot (21.61), Eubanks (21.81) and Rundle (21.72) in 1:26.30. He also won the 100 fly (52.08).

Additionally, Valery Ladrat posted a B-cut time in the 100 breast (58.70) to help OBU to victory.

Don Smith and Andrew McCornack led HSU with a pair of titles. Smith touched first in the 200 IM (1:58.21) and 100 free (47.58), while McCornack swept the diving events in the 1m (192.07) and 3m (185.09).

For the women, OBU's Rachel Watson snatched the spotlight with a pair of B-cut times. First, she won the 200 IM in 2:08.33, before leading the 200 freestyle relay squad of Rachel Watson (24.08), Annalisa Lubinski (25.30), Trina May (24.89) and Sarah Watson (25.26) to a win in 1:39.53 with a B-cut leadoff split. She also helped the 200 medley relay comprised of Jennifer Jorgenson (29.34), Jenny Rocchio (29.75), Rachel Watson (26.36) and May (24.55) to a win in 1:50.00.

The other multiple individual winner for OBU came in the form of Sarah Watson in the 100 free (54.43) and 200 free (1:58.40).

Henderson State had four separate winners lead its squad as Ozden Sari won the 1000 free (10:57.85), Allison Kliewer took the 100 fly (1:01.04), Natalie Miller touched first in the 100 back (1:01.07) and Meika Weiner topped the 500 free (5:16.74).

Ouachita Baptist head coach Jim Dann:
We needed the competition. We have gone three weeks without a meet. I thought that we looked a little stale. We swam well in places and it was good enough to win, but overall we are going to have to swim better if we want to score where we want to at the NCAA Division II National meet. We had a few national cuts. For the women, Rachel Watson made the "B" standard in the 200 IM and in the 50 leading off the 200 free relay. On the men's side, Radu Badalac made the "B" standard in the 200 free and in the 50 leading off the 200 free relay. Nelson Silva continued to swim well with a 9:36.56 1000 free which made the "B" cut and also a 50.78 in the 100 back. Valery Ladrat also made the "B" standard in the 100 breast.

We have a lot of work to do before March. We have to get our younger swimmers to be able to handle the pressure of a big meet. Henderson swam well and beat us in several events. They should be happy with their performance. I thought that Don Smith especially had a good meet for them and on the women's side their distance girls and their backstrokers had excellent swims.

Henderson State head coach Coak Matthews:
I was extremely proud of our team. I thought we swam very tough and smart. I was really pleased with the way we continued to fight after things didn't start out so well for us. But, as we continued to battle, some really good things happened. Everyone stepped up and swam well. We even had some lifetime best times.

This team is really doing some good things and I am very pleased with them. Besides the mental toughness and racing so well, I am very happy with the fact that we are making significant improvements in our stroke technique and turns.

I thank the Lord Jesus for allowing me the opportunity to work with some really terrific young men and women and for giving us the strength to swim well tonight.

Final Scores:
Men: Ouachita Baptist 133.5, Henderson State 97.5
Women: Ouachita Baptist 133, Henderson State 85

Men's Winners
Ouachita Baptist
200 medley relay: Nelson Silva (23.56), Hal Eubanks (26.98), Daniel Karkoska (23.30), Ryan Rundle (22.42); 1:36.26
1000 freestyle: Nelson Silva (9:36.56)
200 freestyle: Radu Badalac (1:43.81)
100 butterfly: Radu Badalac (52.08)
100 backstroke: Nelson Silva (50.78)
500 freestyle: Vicente Condorelli (4:51.55)
100 breaststroke: Valery Ladrat (58.70)
200 freestyle relay: Radu Badalac (21.16), Paden Fontenot (21.61), Hal Eubanks (21.81), Ryan Rundle (21.72); 1:26.30

Henderson State
50 freestyle: Onat Tungac (21.73)
200 IM: Don Smith (1:58.21)
1m: Andrew McCornack (192.07)
100 freestyle: Don Smith (47.58)
3m: Andrew McCornack (185.09)

Women's Winners
Ouachita Baptist
200 medley relay: Jennifer Jorgenson (29.34), Jenny Rocchio (29.75), Rachel Watson (26.36), Trina May (24.55); 1:50.00
200 freestyle: Sarah Watson (1:58.40)
50 freestyle: Trina May (24.74)
200 IM: Rachel Watson (2:08.33)
1m: Shay Garner (180.08)
100 freestyle: Sarah Watson (54.43)
100 breaststroke: Jenny Rocchio (1:07.65)
200 freestyle relay: Rachel Watson (24.08), Annalisa Lubinski (25.30), Trina May (24.89), Sarah Watson (25.26); 1:39.53

Henderson State
1000 freestyle: Ozden Sari (10:57.85)
100 butterfly: Allison Kliewer (1:01.04)
100 backstroke: Natalie Miller (1:01.07)
500 freestyle: Meika Weiner (5:16.74)

Ouachita Baptist NCAA Cuts
A:
Men:
100 backstroke: Nelson Silva (50.78)

B:
Men:
1000 freestyle: Nelson Silva (9:36.56)
200 freestyle: Radu Badalac (1:43.81)
100 breaststroke: Valery Ladrat (58.70)
50 freestyle: Radu Badalac (21.16r)

Women:
200 IM: Rachel Watson (2:08.33)
50 freestyle: Rachel Watson (24.08r)

MOTW, Ouachita Baptist at Henderson State Map

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x