Contact: Jeff Sattora
CHICAGO- With three days down and one to go the Cleveland State Vikings' men's swimming team continued to hold onto first place in the team standings at the 2013 Horizon League Championships. The Vikings used three first place finishes including a new school record to build a 529.5-486 lead over second place Milwaukee.
For Head Coach Wally Morton the team is right where he wants and expects it to be heading into the meet's final day.
"It's always my goal as a head coach that we're the hunt, that we have a chance to win the championship," Morton said. And that is exactly where they are.
Three separate Vikings were able to bring home the first place individual wins on the day.
Junior Alex Lewis picked up his first individual win of the day for the Vikings in the 100 butterfly, hitting the wall first in a time of 48.30. He was followed in sixth place for the Vikings in the fly by senior Berry Thompson (50.02).
The 200 freestyle saw a freshman for CSU pick up not only a win, but new school record, as Adam Ingledew took home the title and place in school history in 1:38.49. Ingledew's time surpassed the previous school record of 1:39.15 set in 2006.
Placing fifth and sixth in the 200 free for the Vikings was Inglledew's freshman classmate Martin Person (1:40.95), and junior Al Shillito (1:41.00).
Shillito bounced back from the sixth place performance with a win of his own as he took home first in the 100 backstroke (49.39).Justin Hill also finished eighth in the 100 back for CSU coming in at 51.06.
Other CSU men's finalists were Justin Kemack placing third in the 400 IM (3:57.53), and Nathan Grant (55.26) and Brian Ferro(56.01) in second and fourth in the 100 breaststroke.
The Cleveland State men ended day three with a third place finish in the 800 freestyle relay. Berry Thompson, Adam Ingledew,Martin Persson, and, Nathan Grant teamed up to finish with a time of 6:42.04.
Morton was proud of the way the team swam, especially with multiple Vikings in Lewis, Ingledew, and Shillito taking home top finishes.
"They (the three winners) are all big-time swimmers and they've all had great seasons" said Morton. "They know how to prepare properly and they know what it takes to win a race."
While Morton was happy with the way the team stepped up and performed on day three, he knows nothing is set in stone yet.
"We did a great job today, but it's a grueling week, it comes down to focus, attitude and will to win on the last day (tomorrow)," Morton said. "We just want them to do their very best and if they do that the score takes care of itself."
The Vikings will look to hold onto first place in the standings tomorrow evening in the final day of the Horizon League Championships at UIC.
