Cleveland, Ohio – The Cleveland State University men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept Xavier in their home opener Saturday afternoon inside The Robert F. Busbey Natatorium.
The women's team won, 159-128, while the men won by a comfortable 184-102 margin.
The women's team won nine of the 14 swimming events contested while the Viking men won 11 of the 14 races.
Sophomore Tommi Wolst led all Vikings by winning three individual races Saturday and also swam on a winning relay.
Wolst won the 100 breaststroke (55.89), the 200 breaststroke (2:04.17) and the 100 butterfly (49.17). Both of his breaststroke times are the best time in the Horizon League this season while his butterfly time, a personal best, is second in the League's top times to only his teammate Philipp Sikatzki. Wolst also swam the lead leg on CSU's 200 medley relay team that took first in 1:30.46, the top time in that event by a League school this season.
Sikatzki won both individual events he was entered in and also swam on both of CSU's winning relay squads. He cruised to first in the 100 backstroke in 47.52 seconds, the fifth fastest time in Division I this season and nearly a full second under the NCAA 'B' cut standard. He also claimed the 200 backstroke in 1:47.66, one of the top 30 marks nationally this season. Both of his times were easily the best in the League this season while his 200 time is his best in that event as a Viking.
Freshman Tyler Stevenson also won two events against Xavier, as he won the 200 freestyle (1:43.84) and the 500 freestyle (4:44.41). His time in the 200 sits as the second best in the League this season.
Freshman DJ Arslanian and sophomore MacJilton Lewis also won individual events for the Vikings.
Arslanian won the 200 butterfly (1:53.61) in the fastest time in the League this season, took second in the 100 freestyle (47.53) and swam the lead leg on the winning 400 freestyle relay team. Lewis won the 400 IM in 4:12.46, as he came from behind during the freestyle segment to claim the win.
Sophomore Jared Stergar was second to Wolst in both breaststroke events, finishing the 100 in 57.99 and the 200 in 2:09.56. Both of those times sit among the top four in the League this season. Senior Declan McLaughlin joined Sikatzki in swimming on both winning relays and took second in the 50 freestyle (21.27).
Freshman Gabriella Marinelli, sophomore Molly McNamara and sophomore Claudia Zido all won two individual events on the women's side to help the CSU cause.
McNamara won the 200 butterfly in 2:02.56, over nine seconds ahead of the field and three seconds clear of the next best time in the League this season. She also won the 400 IM in 4:34.24, took second in the 100 butterfly in 57.07 and swam on CSU's winning 200 medley relay team.
Marinelli won both the 100 freestyle (52.72) and the 200 freestyle (1:55.08) and took third in the 500 freestyle (5:17.61). Her time in the 100 was the second fastest in the League this season.
Zido swept the distance freestyle events as she finished first in the 500 in 5:12.52 and won the 1000 in 10:41.58, a new personal best.
Junior Jamie VanDewerker had a strong day as she won the 50 freestyle (24.16), placed third in the 100 freestyle (53.55) and swam the anchor leg on CSU's winning medley relay team. Her time in the 50 free stands as the second fastest in the League this season.
Junior Tobie Zeller won the 100 breaststroke (1:06.51), was the runner-up in the 200 breaststroke (2:26.95) and swam on the winning medley relay team, which finished in 1:46.18.
The CSU women will be back in action next weekend with a two-day dual meet at Marshall while the men take the weekend off from competition.