Ohio State Women’s Preview
RELATED INFO
- Online Release: http://go.osu.edu/wswim_preview_122
- 2015 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships: Tickets
- Live Results: Michigan
- Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A pair of Big Ten showdowns awaits the Ohio State women’s swimming and diving team, as the squad travels to Michigan this weekend to face-off against the Spartans and Wolverines. The group opens competition Friday in East Lansing with a dual vs. Michigan State at 4 p.m. ET, before continuing to Ann Arbor on Saturday for a meeting with rival and ninth-ranked Michigan at noon.
TICKETS, GET YOUR TICKETS
This season the Buckeyes will welcome their Big Ten counterparts to McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion for the 2015 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, Feb. 18-21. Tickets for the premier event are on sale now and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com or by calling the athletic ticket office at 1-800-745-3000.
LAST TIME OUT
The Buckeyes returned from their winter hiatus in dominating fashion last Friday, posting a 201.5-93.5 win over the Toledo Rockets in Toledo, Ohio. In all, Ohio State swimming recorded the fastest time in each race, while diving standout Taylor Fordnotched wins in both the 1- and 3-meter events.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State holds a record of 4-6 on the year, and most recently split a tri-meet with Marshall and Bowling Green. The Spartans took down the Thundering Herd of Marshall by a 185-115 margin, while falling to the Falcons, 175-125. So far this season, the team has faced Big Ten foes Iowa and Purdue. Both conference meets resulted in loses for the Spartans.
THAT TEAM UP NORTH
The Wolverines enter the meet with a 7-2 overall record and undefeated, 5-0 Big Ten standing. Last time out, Michigan conquered nine events in a tri-meet against Northwestern and Notre Dame, earning a pair of dual-meet wins. The squad ranks ninth in the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division I Team Rankings. Michigan has been ranked as high as sixth this season.
Junior swimmer Ali DeLoof is one to watch, as she garnered her second Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors on Jan. 13. Against Northwestern and Notre Dame, DeLoof won two individual events and assists on two relay wins.
BUCKEYES REP AT NATIONALS
Six Buckeye standouts suited up at USA Swimming’s 2014 AT&T Winter National Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Taking place December 3-6, the Buckeyes competed against some of the nation’s top swimming talent with sophomore Lindsey Clary securing a national title in the 400 individual medley (4:09.87).
“We are unbelieveably proud of Lindsey,” Ohio State head swimming coach Bill Dorenkott said. “Her passion for the sport, willingness to prepare and ability to step up when the lights are bright are the hallmarks of a champion.”
Other team members representing the Buckeyes included Ashley Vance, Erin Dunseith, Amy Bopp, Annie Jongekrijg and Zulal Zeren.
MAKING THE GRADE
Ohio State has earned 12 NCAA provisional times so far this season, while four Buckeyes currently hold one of the top-50 times in the NCAA.
NCAA Provisional Qualifying Times
50 Freestyle
Li (22.67)
100 Freestyle
Li (49.92)
1650 Freestyle
Clary (16:13.63)
100 Backstroke
Zeren (54.62)
200 Backstroke
Zeren (1:56.27)
Gillig (1:59.00)
100 Breaststroke
Vance (1:01.96)
200 Breaststroke
Bopp (2:12.40)
Vance (2:13.85)
200 Butterfly
Bopp (1:59.51)
200 IM
Vance (1:58.41)
400 IM
Clary (4:09.87)
NCAA Rankings
50 Freestyle
- Li (22.62)
1000 Freestyle
- Clary (9:54.61)
1650 Freestyle
- Clary (16:13.63)
100 Breaststroke
- Vance (1:01.12)
200 Breaststroke
- Bopp (2:12.40)
200 IM
- Vance (1:58.41)
400 IM
- Clary (4:09.87)
BUCKEYES VS. THE B1G
The Buckeyes have posted eight individual top-10 times in the Big Ten. Senior Ashley Vance ranks first in the 200 individual medley, while Zhesi Li, Zeren, Bopp and Clary are also among the conference’s standout performers. Clary ranks second in the 400 individual medley and fifth in the 1650 freestyle, while Vance is fourth in the 100 breaststroke and ninth in the 200 breaststroke. Also in the 200 breaststroke, Bopp claims the seventh-fastest mark. Li, a freshman this season, is sixth in the 50 freestyle and Zeren is eighth in the 200 backstroke.
BUCKEYE DIVING GIVES BACK
Members of the men and women’s diving team joined approximately 300 student-athletes, as well as 1,070 additional OSU students in Pay It Forward and Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Since 1999, students have traveled to various locations and organizations across the Columbus community to volunteer their time and efforts for a day “on,” rather than a day “off.”
EMBRACING ELI
Eli Boda, a 13-year old from Columbus, Ohio, was adopted by the Buckeyes through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FOJ), a non-profit, charitable organization formed in 2005 that aims to improve the quality of life for children with pediatric brain tumors and their families.
On May 19, 2014, Eli was diagnosed with a mass on his brain after a seizure caused him to unexpectedly collapse. Since then, a slew of radiation and chemotherapy has followed, taking a toll on both Eli and his loved ones.
Now, Eli has an extended family in the Buckeyes to lean on for support during challenging times. For more information on Eli, his family and his story, visit the following links: Friends of Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, Facebook, Caring Bridge and Go Fund Me.
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes are back in McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion for a dual with West Virginia on Friday, Jan. 30. The meet is scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET start.
Ohio State Men’s Preview
RELATED INFO
- Online Release: http://go.osu.edu/mswim_preview_122
- Top Ten Times: PDF
- Follow the Buckeyes on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A B1G weekend awaits the 12th-ranked Ohio State men’s swimming and diving team, as the Buckeyes take on the Spartans and Wolverines this weekend in Michigan. Opening with a dual vs. Michigan State in East Lansing, the Scarlet and Gray will then travel the short distance to Ann Arbor to face-off against rival and fifth-ranked Michigan. The meet Friday is scheduled for a 4 p.m. ET start, while races will begin Saturday at noon.
IN THE RANKINGS
Ohio State ranks 12th in the nation according to the latest Top 25 poll of Division I men’s teams conducted by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (Jan. 22). Other ranked Big Ten teams include Michigan (5), Indiana (9), Wisconsin (17), Iowa (19) and Minnesota (23).
LAST TIME OUT
The Buckeyes returned to competition following winter training last Friday vs. Denison, earning their sixth dual-meet victory of the season. Downing the Big Red by a score of 189-111, the Buckeyes made the most of their trek to Granville, Ohio, as senior diver Stephen Ettienne and freshman swimmer Brayden Seal both achieved site records.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State owns a record of 4-3, which includes loses to Big Ten foes Iowa and Purdue. Most recently, the Spartans took on the Boilermakers Jan. 10. Falling by a margin of 242-203, the meet marked Michigan State’s first returning from winter break.
SCOUTING THAT TEAM UP NORTH
The Wolverines enter the meet with an undefeated, 8-0 overall record and 4-0 Big Ten standing. Michigan will honor an accomplished senior class, three swimmers and two divers, vs. the Buckeyes on Saturday. Ranked fifth in the current CSCAA poll, the Wolverines started the season in the No. 1 spot.
Michigan has four swimmers among the top-10 in the nation – Andrew Nielson (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), PJ Ransford (1,650 freestyle), Richard Funk (100 breaststroke) and Dylan Bosch (200 butterfly, 200 IM). In the Big Ten, Bosch stands out with two top rankings – 200 butterfly and 200 IM – and three top-5 conference times.
Last season, the Buckeyes were just shy of topping the Wolverines, falling 151-147 in Columbus. The Buckeyes have not won a dual against Michigan since 1991; however, the Buckeyes defeated their rival at the 2010 Big Ten Championships en route to claiming the conference title.
B1G HONORS
Two Buckeyes have received conference recognition so far this season. Rookie Brayden Seal was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Nov. 25, while junior Josh Fleagle received Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors on Nov. 12.
OHIO STATE INVITE CHAMPS
Ohio State was crowned champions of the Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 23. The Buckeyes posted a team total of 1,546, which bested second-place finisher Wisconsin by a margin of 723 points. Overall, it was a solid showing for the swimming squad, with 28 NCAA ‘B’ standard times achieved.
Representing the Buckeye diving unit, senior Stephen Ettienne and freshman Stephen Romanik claimed top-10 finishes on the 1-meter dive. Ettienne posted a finals score of 355.45 for fifth, while Romanik placed sixth with a 331.25 in finals. The divers also contributed handedly on the 3-meter apparatus, with Ettienne picking up 15 points in a fourth-place finish (379.75) and senior Shane Miszkiel adding 14 points for fifth (378.75).
NOTING NATIONALS
Eight Buckeye standouts suited up at USA Swimming’s 2014 AT&T Winter National Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Taking place Dec. 3-6, the Buckeyes competed, and impressed, against some of the nation’s top swimming talent.
One of the most noteworthy events for the Buckeyes was the 400 free relay where the team of Fleagle, Michael DiSalle, Steffen Hillmer and Matt McHugh conquered a national title. Outlasting the University of Louisville and Club Wolverine by less than a second, Ohio State’s winning time of 2:53.04 was a season best.
SENIOR SALUTE
Ohio State has announced a celebration for the team’s senior members will take place Saturday, Jan. 31, prior to the Buckeyes’ home meet vs. Indiana and Louisville. The presentation will begin approximately 30 minutes prior to the 1 p.m. ET meet start. More information will follow.
MAKING THE GRADE
Ohio State has earned 32 NCAA provisional times so far this season, while 12 Buckeye swimmers rank in the Top 20 nationally.
NCAA Provisional Qualifying Times
50 Freestyle
Fleagle (19.60)
100 Freestyle
Fleagle (43.09)
DiSalle (43.48)
200 Freestyle
Fleagle (1:34.33)
DiSalle (1:35.37)
Hillmer (1:36.93)
Williams (1:36.99)
500 Freestyle
Seal (4:19.82)
Williams (4:23.59)
Hillmer (4:23.81)
1650 Freestyle
Seal (15:14.43)
100 Backstroke
Zimmerman (47.01)
McHugh (47.44)
Williams (47.53)
McDonald (48.27)
Trace (48.32)
200 Backstroke
Williams (1:42.88)
Zimmerman (1:43.16)
Trace (1:45.70)
100 Breaststroke
MacDonald (53.68)
Barone (54.27)
200 Breaststroke
MacDonald (1:56.75)
100 Butterfly
McHugh (47.49)
200 Butterfly
Gercsak (1:44.45)
Lim (1:46.32)
200 IM
Gercsak (1:46.08)
Zimmerman (1:46.95)
Morgan (1:48.60)
Lim (1:48.99)
400 IM
Gercsak (3:47.20)
Dolgov (3:51.32)
Mitrovic (3:53.04)
NCAA Rankings
50 Freestyle
- Fleagle (19.60)
100 Freestyle
- Fleagle (43.09)
200 Freestyle
- Fleagle (1:34.33)
- DiSalle (1:35.37)
500 Freestyle
- Seal (4:19.82)
100 Backstroke
- Zimmerman (47.01)
- McHugh (47.44)
200 Backstroke
- Williams (1:42.88)
- Zimmerman (1:43.16)
100 Breaststroke
- MacDonald (53.68)
200 Butterfly
- Gercsak (1:44.45)
400 IM
- Gercsak (3:47.20)
BUCKEYES VS. THE B1G
Ohio State currently holds 25 top-10 individual times in the Big Ten. Fleagle ranks first in the 200 freestyle, as well as runner-up in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Also posted among the top-5 are DiSalle (4th, 100 freestyle), Seal (5th, 500 freestyle), Rowan Williams (5th, 200 backstroke) and Tamas Gercsak (3rd, 200 butterfly; 4th, 200 IM; 3rd, 400 IM). Three Buckeyes – Steven Zimmerman, McHugh and Williams – hold top-5 standing in the 100 backstroke.
PHILLIPS TO CONTEND AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tim Phillips, a former member of the Ohio State men’s swimming and diving team, will represent the United States at the 2015 FINA World Championships, July 24-Aug. 9, in Kazan, Russia. Phillips will replace fellow U.S. National Team member Michael Phelps in the 100 butterfly event on the American roster.
Phillips was an All-American swimmer during his time at Ohio State. Most recently, he set a Big Ten record with a time of 45.10 in the 100 butterfly at the 2014 NCAA Championships to place third. He is joined on the U.S. National Team by current Ohio State swimmer DJ MacDonald. MacDonald will compete at the 2015 World University Games, July 3-14, in Gwangju, South Korea.
WADLEY NAMED TO U.S. NATIONAL TEAM COACHING STAFF
Ohio State head coach Bill Wadley will contribute his plethora of experience to the United States National Team as a member for the coaching staff, effective Sept. 2, 2014. Wadley was selected to join the coaching contingent by USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch and will remain on the staff for one year.
Wadley qualified for the position after two of his athletes – Phillips and MacDonald – finished Top 6 in their respective events at the 2014 Phillips 66 National Championships.
“Coach Wadley has helped me develop as a swimmer through his dedication and perseverance to making sure that not just me, but everyone on the team reaches their full potential as a swimmer and as a person,” MacDonald said. “As much as he emphasizes the team’s efforts in the pool, he also encourages us to be leaders outside of the pool – in the community and the classroom.”
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes are back in McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion for a dual with West Virginia on Friday, Jan. 30. The meet is scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET start.