HAMILTON, N.Y. - The Cleveland State University men's and women's swimming & diving teams opened their 2017-18 seasons with a limited number of events on the first day of the Justin Jennings Memorial Invitational Friday evening at Colgate's Lineberry Natatorium.
CSU freshmen combined for six top-10 finishes on the opening night, highlighted by Matt Akers claiming the men's 3-meter diving title.
Akers led a group of three Vikings within the top four in the event by posting 255.20 points. Sophomore Antony Styrt placed second (248.05) while junior Curtis Roden was fourth (236.10).
Freshman Dominik Niedzialek had the highest finish by a CSU male swimmer on the evening as he took third in the 200 IM in a time of 1:58.52. Junior Erwan Mahoudo took 10th in the same event in 2:00.52.
Junior Jason van der Touw led a group of four Vikings in the top 10 in the 50 freestyle by placing fourth (21.81). A trio of sophomores followed as DJ Arslanian was fifth (21.88), Tyler Stevenson was ninth (21.98) and Jack MacDonald was 10th (22.14).
Freshman Lee Moffett was Cleveland State's top finisher in the 500 freestyle, as he took sixth in 4:51.28. Classmate David Bates was CSU's next finisher in that event, placing 14th in 4:59.19.
The CSU men placed third in the 200 freestyle relay, as van der Touw, senior Grant Wethington, Arslanian and freshman Ryan Sedlak stopped the clock in 1:27.09.
On the women's side, freshman Lexie Kostelnik led the way with her second-place finish in the 500 freestyle (5:13.05).
Sophomore Gabriella Marinelli contributed a pair of top-10 individual finishes Friday. She was fifth in the 50 freestyle (24.57) and took ninth in the 200 IM (2:14.14).
Marinelli was one of eight Vikings to finish in the top 20 in the field of 78 in the 50 free. Senior Jamie VanDewerker was sixth (24.85), junior Ashleigh Bennett was 11th (25.24) and freshman Irena Weclawiak was 14th (25.44). Sophomore Meghan Bobick, junior Claudia Zido and freshmen Gracyn McQueary and Alana Cartwright were also among the top 20.
VanDewerker led off CSU's top-placing 200 free relay. She teamed with sophomores Madisyn Jaszcz and Chuchu Yang and junior Abbie Kaple to place eighth (1:41.68).
Freshman Erica Henrichsen had a fine debut on the board as she took fourth in the 1-meter event (233.20).
The CSU men are in second place with 216 points while the Viking women are in fifth with 126.5 points.
Cleveland State will conclude action at the event Saturday with 11 individual swimming events, diving and two relays.