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Contact: Kevin Zeise

Nov. 10, 2003

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland State men's and women's swimming and diving teams return home for two meets this week. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the Vikings will face Gannon and Baldwin-Wallace before facing Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 15.

About the Viking Men
The Vikings (2-1, 1-0 HL) dropped a 138-105 decision at St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Nov. 8. Daniel Thomasson (Sodertalje, Sweden/Vastergards Gymnaslet) and Warren Vickers (Durban, South Africa) each picked up a pair of wins for the Vikings. Thomasson won the 500 and 1000 freestyles, scoring a season-best time of 9:45.08 in the 1000. Vickers, meanwhile, claimed a win in the 100 and 200 freestyles. Niall McGrane (Dublin, Ireland/St. Mary's Rathmines) and Pieter Pelser (Krugersdorp, South Africa/Grey College) also chipped in with wins on the day for the Vikings, with McGrane winning the 200 butterfly and Pelser claiming first in the 200 backstroke.

About the Viking Women
CSU's women's team fell to St. Bonaventure, 119-91, on Saturday, Nov. 8, in Olean, N.Y. Marianne Lionell (Sodertalje, Sweden/ Ragnhildsgymnasiet) picked up a pair of wins on the day for the Vikings, winning the 100 breaststroke and the 50 freestyle. Samantha Jones (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) and Kirsty McKechnie (Durban, South Africa/Crawford College) also added a win for the Viking women. Jones took first in the 100 backstroke, while McKechnie won the 500 freestyle. The women's 200 freestyle medley also picked up a win in 1:47.01 to close out the meet with the Bonnies.

Watch For Falling Records
Two school records fell in the home-opening weekend on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, one for each the men and the women. Pieter Pelser took down the 100 backstroke record in the opening leg of the 400 medley relay, the opening swim of the season for the men, on Oct. 31 against Miami, while Marianne Lionell claimed the 200 breaststroke record by more than a second a day later against UW-Green Bay. Their accomplishments earned them both Horizon League Athlete of the Week honors on Nov. 4.

An Eye On The Rankings
Lyle Wilkens (Bloemfontein, South Africa/Grey College) and Pieter Pelser have made an impact not only in the Horizon League, but in the nation, as both are listed in the latest rankings by Collegeswimming.com. Wilkens has the 19th fastest time in the 50 freestyle, and is one of only 22 swimmers in the nation to break 21 seconds in the event. Pelser is 15th in the 100 backstroke with his school-record setting time of 50.33, and ranks 14th in the 200 backstroke.

Leading the Way
In the latest Horizon League top times list released on Wednesday, Nov. 5, the men's team has clearly staked their claim to be the best team in the league. A CSU swimmer leads all but six of the individual swimming events, while the Vikings also have the fastest time in both of the relays that they have competed in to this point in the season. Lyle Wilkens holds an edge in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, while Daniel Thomasson leads in the 500 and 1000 freestyles. Pieter Pelser also has the fastest time in both the 100 and 200 backstroke events.

Out In Front
Marianne Lionell and Samantha Jones also are on top of the event standings in the Horizon League on the women's side. Lionell leads both the 50 freestyle and the 200 breaststroke, carrying more than a two-second advantage in the latter. Jones, meanwhile, is tied for the the fastest time in the 100 backstroke with Laura Brager from UW-Green Bay.

Counting Down The Wins
Men's head coach Wally Morton has compiled 190 wins in his 23 seasons as head coach, including his 2-1mark this season. Morton is the winningest head coach in the history of Cleveland State swimming and diving.

Up Next
Both teams are off until Tuesday, Nov. 25, when they head to Columbus to face Ohio State at 5 p.m.