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Contact: Kevin Zeise
Nov. 24, 2003
CLEVELAND - The Cleveland State men's and women's swimming and diving teams will head to Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, to face Ohio State in a dual meet. The Vikings and Buckeyes will tangle at 5 p.m. in Columbus.
About the Viking Men
The Vikings (5-1, 1-0 HL) picked up a 131-112 win over mid-major power Eastern Michigan in their last time out on Nov. 15 at the Busbey Natatorium. Cleveland State also picked up a pair of wins earlier in the week, defeating Gannon and Baldwin-Wallace on Nov. 12. Luke Wilkens (Bloemfontein, South Africa/Grey College) picked up three wins for the Vikings, while Warren Vickers (Durban, South Africa) collected a pair of individual wins and led off the winning 400 freestyle relay. Pieter Pelser (Krugersdorp, South Africa/Grey College) broke his own school records in the 100 and 200 backstroke events against Eastern Michigan to cap the day for the Vikings.
About the Viking Women
The women's team (3-3, 0-1 HL) went 2-1 in their last week of action, defeating Gannon and Baldwin-Wallace on Wednesday, Nov. 12, before falling to Eastern Michigan on three days later. Marianne Lionell (Sodertalje, Sweden/Ragnhildsgymnasiet), Kirsty McKechnie (Durban, South Africa/Crawford College) and Samantha Jones (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) each picked up a win for the Vikings against Eastern Michigan.
Climbing The Charts
Warren Vickers' leadoff time of 44.90 in the 400 freestyle relay on Nov. 15 against Eastern Michigan is one of just 10 to be posted in the nation through Nov. 24. Vickers ranks 10th in Division I in the 100 freestyle, while a host of other Vikings are listed among the nation's best. Pieter Pelser is ranked 17th in the 100 backstroke and 19th in the 200 backstroke through the first six weeks of the season, while Vickers has also posted the 30th-fastest time in the nation in the 50 freestyle. In addition, the men's 400 freestyle relay team currently holds down the 26th-fastest time in the nation.
...And Within The League
The Vikings hold the top time in the Horizon League in nearly every event on the men's side in the latest top times update from the league office, released on Monday, Nov. 24. Warren Vickers and Luke Wilkens currently hold down the top time in three events each. Pieter Pelser has the fastest mark in the two backstroke events, while the Vikings have the best time in three of the four relays they've competed in at this point in the season. In all, a Viking swimmer, relay or diver holds the league's top mark in 14 of the 21 events that will be contested at the Horizon League Championships in late February.
The Women Aren't Bad, Either
In the women's top times update, also released on Monday, Nov. 24, Marianne Lionell leads in the 50 freestyle and both breaststroke events, while Samantha Jones has the league's best time in the 100 backstroke. Kirsty McKechnie joins in by holding the league's standard in the 400 individual medley.
Swimmer of the Week
Warren Vickers' performance in the win over Eastern Michigan earned him Horizon League Swimmer of the Week honors for the week ending Nov. 16, the league office announced on Nov. 18. Vickers joins Pieter Pelser on the men's side and Marianne Lionell for the women in earning league honors this season. Lionell and Pelser were both named on Nov. 4 after setting school records during the season-opening weekend on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Watch For Falling Records
Pieter Pelser grabbed another pair of school records on Nov. 15 against Eastern Michigan. Pelser re-set his own marks in both the 100 backstroke and the 200 backstroke against the Eagles. Pelser first set the 100 back record in the season-opener against Miami, and originally captured the 200 backstroke record at last year's Horizon League Championships. Marianne Lionell, meanwhile, has already claimed the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke records this season for the women's team.
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
The Vikings will make the short trip down I-77 for their fall wrap-up meet, the Akron Invitational, on Dec. 4-6.
