Feb. 23, 2008

Day Four Results | 2008 Championship Schedule and Results | Cumulative Results

Contact: Gene Natale, Jr.

AKRON, Ohio - Cleveland State capped off a spectacular week with a second place showing at the Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships Saturday night at Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.

Wright State was overall champion with 794 points, followed by runner-up Cleveland State (675) and UW-Milwaukee (632).

The Vikings set six school records during the week, as well as two Horizon League and championship meet records. The Vikings also set three pool records after the meet was switched to Akron's Ocasek Natatorium for day three of the four day competition.

"It was a spectacular meet for the men," head coach Wally Morton said, "We didn't even have a full team this season, and to be runner up to Wright State, a well balanced team, is a great accomplishment. My hat is off to Wright State."

Senior Dan Baiko started began the day by completing his sweep of the diving events and taking the title in the one-meter. His score of 322.65 was a personal best and an Ocasek Natatorium record. He beat top-seeded PJ Rongtisch of UW-Milwaukee (second, 291.70 points) by thirty points in the process. For his efforts in winning both the three and one-meter dives this week, Baiko was named diver of the meet.

"Danny has made the most progress in the shortest time by any athlete that I have ever seen," Morton said, "He will go to the national qualifying meet, and I am confident he will do well."

Also scoring a win in record-setting fashion was Deni Gasparin in the 200 breaststroke (2:01.02). His time was an Ocasek Natatorium record, and may have helped his cause in voting for the post-meet honors as he was named newcomer of the year. He was also a second off from setting an NCAA "B" qualifying mark.

Jakub Dobies, who scored a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle Saturday (45.52) was named co-athlete of the year along with Wright State's Nathan Demchuk. Dobies ended up tied with Demchuk and Green Bay's Alex Hill for the most individual points scored in the meet.

"We have the highest ranked swimmer in the nation with Dobies," Morton said, "His season along with Baiko's will continue, and he will prepare for NCAA's. Deni, Dobies, and Dan's awards are great achievements."

Rich Karban rounded out the Vikings post-meet honors by winning his fifth straight diving coach of the year award.

"For Rich Karban to be named coach of the year every season he has been a coach at Cleveland State is just outstanding," Morton said.

Also placing high on Saturday was Stef Potgieter, who registered a third place showing in the 200 breast with a personal-best time of 2:04.45, the 400 freestyle relay team of Dobies, Stephen Grove, Todd Winchell, and Mike Marsico (third, 3:01.04), Marko Milenkovic in the 200 breast (fifth, 2:05.55), Dave Duecker in the 200 fly (fifth, 1:50.74), Grove in the 100 free (fifth, 45.78), and Zvonimir Androic in the 200 backstroke (fifth, 1:52.19).

"The amount of school records and pool records that we have set, and to be runners-up is an outstanding achievement," Morton said. "We lose an outstanding group of seniors."

The Vikings have now concluded their season. Dan Baiko will have a chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships at the Zone C Diving preliminary round at Ohio State from March 14-16. Jakub Dobies will also continue his season pending an invitation to the NCAA Championships, which will be held at the University of Washington's Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center from March 27-29.

• Co-Swimmers of the Meet: Nathan Demchuk, Wright State and Alex Hill, Green Bay
• Diver of the Meet: Dan Baiko, Cleveland State
• Co-Athletes of the Year: Jakub Dobies, Cleveland State and Nathan Demchuk, Wright State
• Newcomer of the Year: Deni Gasparin, Cleveland State
• Swimming Coach of the Year: Sion Brinn, Wright State
• Diving Coach of the Year: Rich Karban, Cleveland State