Feb. 5, 2005
CLEVELAND - Coming off of a tough-fought meet with the reigning Horizon League champions, the Cleveland State men's swimming and diving team continued closed out their regular season by handling UIC, 137-104, at Busbey Natatorium on Saturday (Feb. 5). Diver Thatcher Carr was again at his best, shattering his own one-meter record by more than 30 points with a 410.93.
Carr won both diving events on the day, out-pacing the runner-up at one-meter by over 120 points and scoring a 409.95 at three-meter for a 130-point advantage. Since his first meet with the Vikings on Jan. 15, he has topped his own one-meter record four times.
The graduating seniors had a good day as well, tallying three individual wins. Luke Wilkens excelled for the Vikings as well, posting a Horizon League season-best time in the 200 freestyle (1:40.82) and notching an additional win in the 100 butterfly (49.71). Gabriel Linton added a top mark in the 100 breaststroke with a 59.16.
The 200 medley relay team of junior Pieter Pelser, Linton, senior Ryan Klaus and freshman Johan Norling swam to a season-best 1:33.26 for the win.
Freshmen Khaled Elgamal and Brady Lusk, as well as sophomore Bjorn Schantz, posted a 1-2-3 finish in the 1,000 freestyle, while Schantz and junior Daniel Thomasson finished second and third respectively behind Wilkens in the 200 free, while Pelser and freshman Dave Duecker tallied a 2-3 showing in the 200 IM.
"Coming off of a tough loss last night (Wright State), we needed to come out fast today," head coach Wally Morton said. "And we did just that. This was very encouraging to see, because we will be in this kind of situation, swimming with very little rest, once the championships come around."
Beforehand, the four seniors Todd Hostutler, Klaus, Linton and Wilkens were recognized in their final meet at Busbey Natatorium.
The Horizon League Championships are next up for the Vikings, beginning Feb. 23 in Milwaukee.
