Feb. 8, 2004
CHICAGO - The Cleveland State men's and women's swimming and diving teams wrapped up a successful weekend, posting a combined 4-1 record over the two days of competition. The women defeated UIC and Valparaiso on Saturday, while the men also took wins over those two schools to go along with a loss to Notre Dame on Friday night.
Against UIC and Valparaiso on Saturday, the women got three key wins from Kirsty McKechnie and a pair each from Samantha Jones and Marianne Lionell to spark a 119-115 win over UIC and a 126-81 win over Valparaiso. McKechnie won the 1000 freestyle in 10:50.53, then won the 200 butterfly in 2:14.45. She capped off her day with a win in the day's second-longest event, the 500 freestyle, winning in 5:17.82.
Jones chipped in with wins in the 200 freestyle and the 200 backstroke, while Lionell won the 50 freestyle and the 200 breaststroke. Jones posted a time of 1:58.69 in the 200 freestyle, and won the backstroke in 2:09.34. Lionell won the 50 freestyle in 24.76 and finished first in the breaststroke with a time of 2:26.77.
In addition, the Viking women took first in the 400 medley relay, finishing in 4:05.86.
For the men against UIC and Valparaiso, the Vikings took 11 of the 13 events in cruising to a 156-87 win over UIC and a 195-39 win over Valpo. After leading off with a win in the 400 medley relay in 3:26.84, Daniel Thomasson took the first of his two wins, winning the 1000 freestyle in 9:54.01. He would later win the 500 freestyle in 4:49.86. Chris Jones was the other double-winner on the day for the Vikings, taking first on both diving boards. He scored 283.70 on 1m, the recorded a score of 305.32 on 3m.
Warren Vickers captured top honors in the 200 freestyle, winning in 1:45.21, while Niall McGrane won the 200 individual medley in 1:59.82. Luke Wilkens first in the 200 butterfly, winning in 1:51.24, with his brother, Lyle Wilkens, winning the 100 freestyle in 46.53. Pieter Pelser won the 200 backstroke in 1:56.72 before Gabriel Linton wrapped up the meet with a win in the 200 breaststroke in 2:13.39.
On Friday night, the Vikings took just five of the 13 events in falling 145-96 at Notre Dame. Chris Jones took first on the 1m board, scoring 280.73, while Luke Wilkens won the 200 butterfly in 1:52.22. Pieter Pelser won the 200 backstroke in 1:52.55, with Daniel Thomasson winning the 500 freestyle in 4:45.22, collecting the first of his three wins on the weekend. The Vikings also won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:12.64.
The Vikings will now have several weeks off before heading back to Chicago for the Horizon League Championships. Cleveland State will compete in the league's capstone meet on Wed., Feb. 25 through Sat., Feb. 28. at the UIC Natatorium.
