CLEVELAND, Ohio - Senior Philipp Sikatzki broke two pool records and one school record as the Cleveland State University men's and women's swimming and diving teams hosted the first day of their annual Magnus Cup inside The Robert F. Busbey Natatorium.
After the first day of competition, the Viking men lead the field of nine men's teams with 572 points. The CSU women sit fourth of 14 teams with 271 points, just 16 points behind third-place Xavier.
Sikatzki highlighted the opening day by winning the 200 IM in a school and pool record time of 1:46.63. His time was more than two seconds under the NCAA 'B' standard, and his time would rank as one of the 10 fastest marks in Division I this season entering the weekend. Sophomores Tommi Wolst and Jared Stergar placed second and seventh, respectively, in the same event in times of 1:49.46 and 1:53.77.
Sikatzki also helped the Vikings to first-place finishes in both of the relays Friday. He led off the 200 free relay that also featured Wolst and seniors Declan McLaughlin and Robert Tolson and finished in 1:21.56, one of the top 20 times in Division I this season entering the weekend. CSU claimed three of the top eight places of the 24 teams that entered as the B squad was fourth in 1:24.63, and the C quartet was eighth in 1:25.19.
CSU's 400 medley relay featuring Sikatzki, Wolst, freshman DJ Arslanian and senior Phillip Brittain won in 3:16.41, one of the top 15 times nationally entering the weekend. Sikatzki broke the pool record in the 100 backstroke when leading off the relay with his 46.64 split. The Vikings actually went 1-2 in the event as the B relay team of junior Jonathan LaValle, Stergar, junior Grant Wethington and Tolson finished in 3:20.92.
Wolst won the 50 breaststroke in 25.09 seconds while Brittain took third in the same event in 25.71 seconds. Junior Patrick Tippen was seventh in the 50 breaststroke (26.42) while McLaughlin was 10th (26.86).
McLaughlin tied for second in the 50 freestyle in 21.05 seconds while Tolson was just behind in fourth in 21.06.
Freshman Tyler Stevenson took third in the 500 freestyle (4:37.34) for the Vikings while sophomore MacJilton Lewis was right behind in fourth (4:37.39). Senior Patrick Walsh took sixth in the event (4:41.24) while Brittain was 10th (4:44.29).
Sophomore Molly McNamara had a strong day for the CSU women, as she was the runner-up in the 200 IM in 2:03.28, less than a half second off the school record. Her time was a new career best and stands as the top mark in the Horizon League this season entering the weekend. Sophomore Cassandra Oltman was 10th in the 200 IM (2:08.99) while freshman Chuchu Yang took 17th of 87 competitors (2:09.36).
McNamara also helped the Vikings to a strong second-place showing in the 400 medley relay by swimming the third leg. Oltman, junior Tobie Zeller and freshman Gabriella Marinelli also were key factors in helping the Vikings touch the wall in 3:45.55, the fastest time in the League this season entering the weekend and less than one second off the school record.
In addition to aiding the 400 medley relay, Zeller took third in the 50 breaststroke in 29.65 seconds. Senior Madisen Tretter took ninth in the same event in 30.30 seconds.
Marinelli was the top finisher for the Vikings in both the 50 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. She took 10th in the 50 in 24.07 seconds and was sixth in the 500 in 5:01.49, over 16 seconds faster than when she swam the event earlier this season.
Junior Jamie VanDewerker was close behind in the 50 free, as she took 13th in 23.92 seconds. Sophomore Claudia Zido was 16th of 80 competitors in the 500 in 5:04.07.
CSU's top team in the 200 freestyle relay took sixth in 1:35.24. Marinelli teamed with freshman Meghan Bobick, senior Anna Evans and VanDewerker on the event.
Sophomore Curtis Roden had a strong showing in 3-meter diving, as he easily won the competition with 295.85 points, a career-best. Senior Tori Taffner was CSU's top finisher in the women's 1-meter event with 224.40 points, good enough for a ninth-place finish.
The Magnus Cup will continue Saturday with five more individual swimming events, two more relays in the evening and the conclusion of the diving competition.