Jan. 20, 2005

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Setting the Scene: Cleveland State men's head coach returns to his alma mater on Saturday (Jan. 22) as the Vikings men's swimmers head to Oxford, Ohio to battle Miami beginning at 3:00 p.m.

McKechnie Garners Swimmer of the Week Honors: Junior Kirsty McKechnie was named the Horizon League female swimmer of the week on Tueday (Jan. 18) after swimming to a CSU record-setting time of 10:27.29 in the 1,000 freestyle against Duquesne, Saint Francis and Xavier on Saturday (Jan. 15). Her first-place time in the event was nearly five seconds swifter than the previous mark of 10:32.24, set by Jen Henshaw in 1999. The Durban, South Africa native also posted a first-place finish in the 500 freestyle (5:08.52) and second-place in the 200 butterfly (2:12.03).

Records Fall at Busbey Natatorium: A pair of school records changed hands on Saturday (Jan. 15) with senior Thatcher Carr and junior Kirsty McKechnie setting marks as Cleveland State battled Duquesne, Xavier and the Saint Francis women's team at Busbey Natatorium. In his first meet with the Vikings, Carr bested the one-meter diving school record by over 27 points, scoring a 349.40 in an exhibition showing. He also added a league season-best 344.90 in the three-meter exhibition. Justin Sochor set the previous one-meter mark in 1995 with a 322.20. After coming within just over a second of the 1,000 free record at Florida International a week ago, McKechnie topped Jen Henshaw's previous mark by nearly five seconds, swimming to a first-place finish in 10:27.29. Henshaw swam to a 10:32.24 in 1999.

Keeping Up With Jones: Senior Samantha Jones has been one of the top female swimmers in the Horizon League for the past three seasons. This year has been no exception, as the Pietermartizburg, South Africa native holds league best times in three events, including the 100 back, 200 back and the 200 IM. She also has garnered swimmer of the week honors twice (11/9 & 12/7).

What Sophomore Jinx?: Sophomore Marianne Lionell began her collegiate career at Cleveland State with a flurry last season, shattering long-standing school records in the 50 freestyle (23.86), 100 breaststroke (1:04.98) and 200 breaststroke (2:22.72) in addition to placing fourth all-time in the 100 freestyle (53.01). This year, the Sodertalje, Sweden native seems to have thwarted any indications of a sophomore slump, continuing to challenge her first-year times at every meet. She has already improved upon her 100 freestyle time (53.00) and has approached her top marks in the 50 free (24.31), 100 breast (1:06.15) and 200 breast (2:23.05). Her 50 and 100 free marks, as well as her 100 breast time, are season-bests in the Horizon League to date.

Pelser and Wilkens, Again: Just by glancing down the Horizon League top times, two names always seem to appear near or at the top of just about every list: Pieter Pelser and Luke Wilkens. The South African tandem holds a total of seven top-five times between them. Pelser is atop the standings in both the 100 back (49.71) and 200 back (1:47.84), while Wilkens leads all league swimmers in the 500 freestyle (4:31.99), 100 butterfly (49.33) and 200 butterfly (1:51.18). Additionally, Pelser's top marks in both backstroke events broke his own school records set a year ago.

Morton Goes From 199 to 202: It seems fitting that a head coach with 199 wins to his credit would not be content to win just one more for an even 200, but men's head coach Wally Morton never really had the chance. On Nov. 15, the 24th-year CSU mentor actually jumped from 199 career-dual meet victories to 202 before the night was through by topping Baldwin-Wallace, Gannon and John Carroll in the City College Meet in Busbey Natatorium. With competitors from each team swimming in every heat, the triple dual-meet was not officially scored until the very end, giving CSU three victories simultaneously. So if the question gets asked "who did coach Morton get his 200th win against?", one answer is as good as any.

Out With the Old, In With the Newcomers: Men's head coach Wally Morton had quite a task at hand following last season. After losing 11 swimmers to graduation last year, including two-time Horizon League Swimmer of the Year Warren Vickers, Morton brought in 12 talented newcomers to carry the burden left by the departing veterans, and they have delivered. Sophomore Bjorn Schantz currently leads the Horizon League in the 200 freestyle (1:41.60), 1,000 freestyle (9:27.19) and 1,650 free (16:02.39) and was named the league's men's swimmer of the week on Nov. 16. Additionally, senior Thatcher Carr began his Viking career in style by shattering the CSU record in one-meter diving on Jan. 15. In fact, seven Viking newcomers hold a total of 23 top-ten Horizon League times or scores this season, including:

Better Lehto than Never: Women's head coach Mike Lehto is in his 11th season with Cleveland State, compiling a 70-75 career record as the winningest Vikings' mentor in history. Last season, Lehto guided the squad to its third-straight season at .500 or better, compiling a 7-6 dual meet mark. Under his guidance, the Vikings broke six school records, won two Horizon League Championship events and featured the school's first league newcomer of the year (Marianne Lionell) since 1999. With every top swimmer from last season returning, this year has the potential to be one of the program's finest. "This could be the most talented team that I've coached during my tenure here," Lehto commented. "We have to continue to work hard in practice and remain focused throughout the year so that, when the championship rolls around, we will be swimming at our best."

Wally World: Cleveland State men's swimming has certainly become synonymous with head coach Wally Morton. Morton currently holds a 204-120-1 career record after passing 200 dual meet victories against Baldwin-Wallace, Gannon and John Carroll earlier this season. He has to his credit nine Penn-Ohio Championships, a pair of MCC titles and 21 winning seasons. Morton led the Vikings to their third-straight 11-win season in 2003-04, while CSU swimmers claimed nine titles in the Horizon League Championship. In his fourth and final year under Morton, Warren Vickers was named the league's Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year for the second straight season. Additionally, Chris Jones was named diver of the meet in his senior season, while diving coach Rich Karban was tabbed as Diving Coach of the Year.

Next Up For The Vikings: The men's team returns to Busbey Natatorium on Jan. 28 to host Notre Dame and Canisius starting at 5:00 p.m. The women's team will not see action until the Valparaiso men's and women's teams come to town the next day (Jan. 29), with the meet starting at 2:00 p.m. in Busbey Natatorium.