Swimming and diving teams host fourth invitational

Fredonia swimmers reach NCAA status, Blue Devils prevail over Oswego

CALEE PRINDLE
Staff Writer

DARCIE HENNARD/ Photo Editor

Fredonia divers took a demanding role as some were added to the list of NCAA qualifying scores.

The co-ed swimming and diving teams were successful during the fourth Blue Devil Invitational as participating teams prepared to take on Fredonia. The competition included Baldwin-Wallace, Monroe Community College, Oswego, Penn State Behrend, Pitt-Bradford and Fredonia.

The Blue Devils were looking for placement jumps in comparison to last year's invitational where the women seized second place and the men held onto the fourth place position.

Day one was just the beginning for the Blue Devils' constant three-day recordbreaking triumphs. Friday Nov. 30 began with both teams establishment of new 400-medley relay records. The women were led by junior captain backstroke and individual medalist Emily Dizer, sophomore back and breast stroke Taylor Kelly, freshman fly and sprint Caitlyn Fields and freshman mid-distance Morgan Reisch. The women beat the school record of 4:14:97 with an impressive 4:11.58, shaving off 3.39 seconds.

The men's foursome was composed of senior captain breast stroke Brian Ruffles, sophomore breast stroke and individual medalist Michael Seay, sophomore sprint free-stylist Evan Prewitt and sophomore back, sprint and individual medalist Alex Palmquist. Together they implemented a time of 3:42.77.

"The whole team really came together," Seay said. "It was a great achievement. Even with the loss of a lot of talented swimmers last year, we have improved tremendously and gained spectacular swimmers."

The women ended day one by clinching second place with a score of 142, trailing Oswego by 28 points. While the men redeemed fourth with a score of 101, 37 points behind point leader Penn State Behrend.

Day two, Saturday Dec. 2, maintained the Blue Devils record-breaking route and instituted new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) qualifying scores. Fields continued her triumph with a winning time of 2:19.68 in the evening finals, competing in the 200-yard butterfly. Earlier, Fields swam a 2:21.21 in the preliminaries.

Ruffles captured a new pool and personal record in the 100-yard breaststroke with a clocked time of 1:01.77. Freshman backstroke and free-stylist Robert Sweeny tallied a SUNY Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) qualifying time of 52.47 in 100 free-style.

Fredonia divers then took a commanding role. Junior diver Kelly Sponholz impressed fans with a 453.60-point tally that earned her NCAA qualifying recognition. Senior captain diver Teresa MacInnes and senior diver Scott Horsington were also added to the list of NCAA qualifying scores. Horsington contributed with the threemeter springboard dive. He was also a recent recipient of the SUNYAC Molnar Award given to a male-athlete with the best combination of athletic and academic skill.

At the end of day two, the men could not surpass the dominating force of Oswego senior diver Kevin Morgan who heightened his personal pool record in the three-meter dive with 496.35 points. Also, Oswego's senior free-stylist Greg Doyle qualified for three NCAA championship events as well as establishing new pool records for the 50, 100 and 200 free-style swim.

The Blue Devils ended day two of the invitational holding the same positions. The women placed in second with a score 540, while the men were situated in fourth holding 415 points.

Day three ended the invitational but not without Fredonia leaving a lasting impression. The women's side left notable records as Sponholz totaled a remarkable score of 500 in the three-meter board, 11-dive event. Surpassing a pool, meet, team and SUNYAC record, as well as adding another NCAA qualifying mark. Dizer registered a time of 1:02.89 for the 100-yard backstroke, exceeding the previous pool and meet record.

Palmquist held down the men's side with a new pool record of 54.32 in the 100-yard backstroke. All of the men's efforts allowed for the Blue Devils to surpass Oswego to secure third place.

The men's final placements were: Penn State Behrend (789), Baldwin- Wallace (752.50), Fredonia State (722), Oswego (664.50), Monroe Community College (236) and Pitt- Bradford (181).

"We had some very good relays," Fields said. "However, consistency and depth throughout the weekend would have helped the women defeat Oswego."

The women finished second at the invitational with the final standings as follows: Oswego (993), Fredonia State (897), Monroe Community College (457), Penn State Behrend (372), Baldwin- Wallace (326) and Pitt-Bradford (55).

"We were very happy with ourselves. The team, as a whole, did much better than expected," said freshman sprint freestylist Emily Wiles, who ended day one placing seventh in the 1,650- yard freestyle swim.

The Blue Devils will meet for the first time in the new year to take on Gannon at 1 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 12 at home.