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Dobies And deSwardt Lead Vikings To A Second Place Finish

Dobies And deSwardt Lead Vikings To A Second Place Finish

Feb. 28, 2010

Final Stats

Contact: Renee Adam

Chicago, Ill. - Mark deSwardt and Jakub Dobies led the Vikings on the final day of the Horizon League Championships winning both of their individual events, as the Vikings capped off a spectacular season with a second place finish at the Horizon League Championships with a total of 675 points.

"It was a dog fight over the final three days for the top spot and we had one of the greatest championship performances this year," head coach Wally Morton said. "Jakub and Mark won all of their events and we had two relay victories setting pool records in multiple events. We had a great fight for first place and fell just short based on the totality of performances top to bottom."

deSwardt started the meet by setting a pool record in the 1,650 free, defending his title, finishing with his best time of the year, 15:18.84. His time is also an NCAA "B" cut, which would allow him to go to the NCAA Championships if not enough "A" cuts are set this season.

His win in today's finals gave him a perfect three-for-three at the championships, including two "B" cuts, one school record and three pool records.

"Mark has been the best athlete of the season, winning all but one of his individual events throughout the entire season," Morton said. "He stepped up and performed well at the conference meet for us, leading the team throughout the entire week."

For the first time in his career, Dobies won all of his events at the conference meet, capping off his senior season with a victory in the 200 breast. He swam a 2:01.17, his best time of the season.

"Jakub had the greatest conference meet of his career this season dominating all of his events," Morton said. "He is the closest the qualifying for the NCAA Championships and he was certainly the most outstanding swimmer of the meet."

Deni Gasparin finished second in the 200 breast, swimming his best time of the season, 2:01.39.

Zvonimir Androic led the Vikings in the 200 back, finishing third in a time of 1:51.19 while Colin Hanner finished eighth in 1:54.79.

In his first Horizon League Championship, Berry Thompson finished fourth in the 100 free, recording the fourth fastest time in CSU history, 44.98.

The 100 free was one of the deepest event for the Vikings, with Mike Marsico finishing 14th (46.74), Keith Everhart finishing 15th (47.03) and Justin Hill finishing 16th (47.19).

The mile also proved to be a strong event for CSU with four swimmers scoring points, including deSwardt. Pieter Ritz finished 10th (16:22.83), Graham Thoresen finished 12th (16:38.85) and Alex Cohara finished 13th (16:40.11).

Pierre De Waal placed fifth in the 200 fly, swimming a personal best of 1:50.95, while Brad Bielak won the consolation final in a time of 1:52.17, also a personal best.

The Vikings ended the 2010 championship meet by recording the third fastest time in school history in the 400 free relay, finishing third in 3:00.88. Grove, Thompson, Marsico and Dobies all teamed up for the relay.

The league handed out the yearly awards at the conclusion of the meet, and following his victory in the 3-meter board and his fifth place finish at 1-meter, Josh Gonzalez was named Horizon League Diver of the Meet.

"This is great for Josh to be honored for his accomplishments as diver of the meet," head diving coach Rich Karban said. "He was the highest scoring diver after winning the 3-meter and finishing fifth on the 1-meter. He has trained so hard over the whole season and he was ready to compete at this meet this week. His training paid off because had one of the best meets of his career to finish the season."

Milwaukee was honored as the 2010 Horizon League Champions with 733 points, while CSU was in the hunt throughout the four days ending with 675 points. UIC (671.5), Wright State (646.5), Green Bay (551) and Valparaiso (141) round out the rest of the standings for 2010.

"By any definition we had a very successful season, and Milwaukee had a great meet at the championships and my hat is off to them," Morton said. "It wasn't so much that we lost the meet but more so that Milwaukee won the title."

CSU ended the meet with eight league titles, six NCAA "B" cuts, one school record, four pool records and the diver of the meet.