March 16, 2011

Contact: Dan Carr

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Following a season in which the Cleveland State men's swimming and diving team won 12 dual meets, including a perfect 4-0 against Horizon League competition, the Vikings' accomplishments were recognized with a 10th-place ranking in the final TYR/College Swimming Coaches of America Association Mid-Major poll, released on Tuesday (March 15).

"This is evidence that the CSU Swimming and Diving Team has established itself as one of the top mid-major programs at the Division 1 level according to the College Swimming Coaches Association," head coach Wally Morton said.

"We could not have reached this level of excellence without the support of the University and the hard work of all of the coaches, athletes and so many others who care about the sport we love so much."

The Vikings finished with a score of 240.9. The only other Horizon League team to place on the poll was Milwaukee, which was slotted 19th with 236.7 points.

The U.S. Naval Academy finished in the top spot (261.7), with Princeton (258.2), California State-Bakersfield (255.8), Denver (249.9) and Western Kentucky (248.9) rounding out the top five.

The Cleveland State women's team also received a mention in the poll. The Viking women finished with a score of 238.6, good for 29th overall. Princeton (263.7) captured the top spot on the women's side.

"For our men's team to be in the top ten is awesome and the women to be in the top 30 is quite an accomplishment," Morton said. "We will build on this achievement with our young team, which is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores."

The Mid-Major rankings use an objective point system to compare teams' relative strength in a traditional dual meet lineup as submitted by participating teams. The ranking is available to those institutions that a) are not members of a BCS conference or Mountain West Conference, or b) provide fewer than one-half of the allowable scholarships under the NCAA rules.

The Viking men capped off the year with a third place showing at the Horizon League Championships, breaking three Cleveland State records and setting a conference record in the 200 freestyle relay.

The CSU women set a school record with 15 dual meet wins. The Vikings also set seven Horizon League records at the conference championships en route to a third place finish.

"We are proud of the success we have had this year," Morton said.