Kenyon Swimmers Break Pool Records at NCAC Championships Night 3

2022 NCAC (North Coast Athletic Conference) Championships 

• Wednesday, February 9 2022-Saturday, February 13, 2022
• Trumbull Aquatics Center, Denison University, Granville, Ohio
• Defending champions
  • Men- Kenyon
  • Women- Denison
• Live results
• Live video
• Championship central

On the men’s side, Denison has a 164 point lead over 2nd place Kenyon. It’s a tight battle on the women’s side with Kenyon leading Denison by four-points. Friday night will feature the men’s and women’s 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, and the men’s 1-meter diving.

Men’s Recap

400 IM

1. Bryan Fitzgerald, Kenyon (3:51.20)
2. Eric Chimes, Denison (3:57.13)
3. Josh Pearson, College of Wooster (4:00.30)

Fitzgerald successfully defended his 400 IM conference title en-route to breaking his own conference and pool record, which was set back in 2020 (3:51.60). Chimes was 3rd in the event as a freshman (3:56.12).

100 Fly

1. David Fitch, Kenyon (47.51)
2. Marko Krtinic, Kenyon (48.47)
3. Richie Kurlich, Denison (48.48)

Fitch was 2nd in the event in 2020 (47.57). Six swimmers in the A-final hailed from Kenyon taking 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, which picked up a massive 172 points. 

200 Freestyle 

1. Yurii Kosian, Kenyon (1:39.44)
2. Noah Althoff, Kenyon (1:39.70)
3. Sam Myaard, Denison (1:39.78)

In 2020, it took a 1:37.62 to win the 200 freestyle. The A-final was a young heat with five of the swimmers being sophomores and competing in their first NCAC Championships. 

100 Breaststroke

1. Luis Weekes, Kenyon (54.35)
2. Noah Housekeeper, Denison (54.36)
3. Elijah Venos, Denison (55.39)

The battle for the conference title couldn’t have been tighter between Weekes and Housekeeper. Weeks successfully defended his conference title from 2020 (55.16) while Housekeeper placed 6th in 2020 (56.34).

100 Backstroke 

1. Liam Picozzi, Denison (48.56)
2. Spencer Pruett, Kenyon (48.69)
3. Daniel Brooks, Kenyon & Kosian (49.02)

Piccozi successfully re-claimed his conference title, just a tad slower than he went in 2020 (48.39). Piccozi took 2nd in the 100 backstroke last night. Denison’s Trey Ike (49.16), Kenyon’s Nicholas Tong (48.52), Kenyon’s David Fitch (49.58), and Marcus Hong (49.50) all returned to the A final from 2020, in addition to Picozzi.

1 Meter Diving

1. Israel Zavaleta, Kenyon (483.65)
2. Drew Albrecht, Kenyon (465.00)
3. Mason Fishell, Kenyon (464.65)

Zavaleta picked up his second win on the diving board this weekend after taking 1st in the 3-meter on Wednesday. He led a Kenyon podium sweep, which was followed by Denison taking places 4-6.

Men’s Scores After Day 3

1. Kenyon College, 1368.5
2. Denison University, 1334.5
3. Wabash College, 716
4. DePaw University, 617
5. College of Wooster, 606.5
6. Oberlin College, 454.5
7. Allegheny College, 407.5
8. Ohio Wesleyan University, 311.5
9. Wittenberg College, 207
10. Hiram College, 205

Women’s Recap

400 IM 

1. Esme Wright, Denison (4:23.09)
2. Alix O’Brien, Denison (4:23.23)
3. Sophie Schmitz, Kenyon (4:25.74)

Denison teammates battled for first place, but swam the race in completely different ways.

• Wright: 1:00.94/1:11.28/1:12.19/58.68
• O’Brien: 59.44/1:05.81/1:17.24/1:00.74

Denison placed four swimmers in the A-final finishing 1, 2, 6, 7. Kenyon also had four swimmers in the A-final finishing 3, 4, 5, 8.

100 Fly

1. Crile Hart, Kenyon (53.40)
2. Emma Pritchett, Denison (54.57)
3. Olivia Smith, Kenyon (55.81)

Hart successfully defended her conference title in a new personal best, NCAC and pool record time. She owned the previous record which was set at the NCAC Championships in 2020 (53.59). Smith placed 4th in the event back in 2020 (55.30)

200 Freestyle

1. Taryn Wisner, Denison (1:49.36)
2. Tara Culbrik, Denison (1:50.24)
3. Sydney Geboy, Kenyon (1:50.82)

It was a tight battle for the top three, but the 4th place finisher Sarah Hoffman didn’t touch until 1:52.10. Wisner won the 500 freestyle after taking 3rd in the 500 freestyle on Thursday. 

100 Breaststroke

1. Jennah Fadely, Kenyon (1:01.37)
2. Gabby Wei, Kenyon (1:02.83)
3. CC Crane, Denison (1:03.47)

Fadely won her first title of these championships after finishing 2nd in the 200 IM on Thursday. Teammates Fadely and Wei are only freshmen, which means that there are years of breaststroke battles to come. 

100 Backstroke

1. Olivia Smith, Kenyon (55.03)
2. Annalise Cheshire, Denison (55.31)
3. Lauren Richner, Denison (56.99)

Smith defended her conference title from 2020, improving her personal best by almost a half-second (55.46). Denison placed five swimmers in the A-final picking up points for 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th.

Women’s Scores After Day 3

1. Kenyon College, 1256
2. Denison University, 1168
3. DePaw University, 760
4. College of Wooster, 629
5. Oberlin College, 489
6. Ohio Wesleyan University, 432
7. Allegheny College, 375
8. Hiram College, 234
9. Wittenberg University, 222