Feb. 5, 2011
Contact: Dan Carr
CHICAGO, Ill. - Mark de Swardt won three races, Berry Thompson won two and the Cleveland State men's swimming and diving team ended its regular season with a 127-114 win at UIC on Saturday (Feb. 5). The victory gives the team a perfect 4-0 record against Horizon League competition this season.
"It was really an impressive team effort," head coach Wally Morton said. "They got on the bus at 6:45 this morning, rode to Chicago, got off the bus and swam very well against a good dual meet team."
de Swardt won the 1,000 free (9:20.11), the 500 free (4:33.95) and the 200 fly (1:49.24). His victory in the fly was the second best time in that event in the league this season, and it came against Steve Yemm (second place, 1:49.47) and Andrew Schmitt (third, 1:49.48), two of the conference's best butterfly swimmers.
"Mark had a great meet," Morton said. "He won all three of his events, and in that victory in the fly he had to come from behind."
Thompson's wins came in the 100 free (45.91) and the 50 free (21.00). He also helped his 400 medley relay team to a second place finish in 3:27.33.
Josh Gonzalez had another strong day on the boards. He won the 1-meter dive with a score of 279.23 and took second in the 3-meter, scoring 279.30.
Zvonimir Androic was the other individual event winner for the Vikings. The senior won the 200 back in 1:51.33.
"It was a great way for him to finish his senior season," Morton said.
Cleveland State also received tremendous efforts from several of its depth swimmers, with Graham Thoresen in particular having a good meet. Thoresen took second in the 500 free (4:36.78) and the 1,000 free (9:38.08).
CSU took the two runner-up spots in the 200 breast. Brian Ferro placed second at 2:08.09 while Mike Mulvin took third with a time of 2:17.73.
Justin Hill placed second in both the 100 (47.36) and 50 (21.20) freestyles.
"This was a good all-around team effort," Morton said. "A number of our depth swimmers stepped up and earned us points, and that made the difference in the win today."
Not since the 2003-04 season had the Viking men (12-3-1, 4-0 HL) gone undefeated in the Horizon League. Each year since the team has been close, with exactly one conference loss in each season.
"This was a great way to end a great regular season," Morton said. "We went unbeaten in the Horizon League against some good dual meet teams, and we beat nearly everyone on our schedule. Our only losses were to Ohio State, Notre Dame and a very tough Oakland team.
"This has been a good season and it bodes well for the upcoming conference championships."
The 2011 Horizon League swimming and diving championships are next on the docket for the men's team. The Vikings will have two weeks to train for the event, which will be held at CSU's Busbey Natatorium from Feb. 23-26.
