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Contact: Chris Urban

Nov. 29, 2004

Setting the Scene: The Cleveland State swimming and diving team heads to Oxford, Ohio on Dec. 3 for the three-day Miami Invitational to be held at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center. Prelims begin at 9:00 a.m. with finals being held at 6:00 p.m. The events will take place as follows:

Friday, Dec. 3
200 freestyle relay
500 freestyle
200 individual medley
50 freestyle
1 meter diving
400 medley relay

Saturday, Dec. 4
200 medley relay
400 individual medley
100 butterfly
200 freestyle
100 breaststroke
100 backstroke
3 meter diving
800 freestyle relay

Sunday, Dec. 5
1,650 freestyle
200 backstroke
100 freestyle
200 breaststroke
200 butterfly
platform/synchronized diving*
400 freestyle relay

* denotes non-scoring event

Canisius Added To Slate: The Jan. 28 dual meet with the Notre Dame men's team will now become a tri-meet with the addition of the Canisius men's team to the event. The meet is still scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Busbey Natatorium.

Lionell, Schantz Named Swimmers Of The Week: Sophomores Marianne Lionell (Sodertalje, Sweden) and Bjorn Schantz (Loddekopinge, Sweden) were named the Horizon League women's and men's Swimmers of the Week for the week ending Nov. 16.

Lionell won three events in helping the Vikings go 3-0 in the City College Meet at Busbey Natatorium Monday (Nov. 15), winning the 50 freestyle (24.31), 100 freestyle (53.00) and the 100 breaststroke (1:06.15). Her 100 freestyle time was a team-best this season. She also picked up wins in the 50 freestyle (24.55) and 200 breaststroke (2:24.96) at Eastern Michigan on Friday (Nov. 12).

"Marianne hasn't been as quick as she was last year, but she has been much more consistent," women's head coach Mike Lehto said. "She has been healthy all year, and that has really helped. I'm looking forward to see how well she does at the Miami Invitational."

Schantz swam to Cleveland State's only win against Eastern Michigan on Friday Nov. 12, posting a 4:34.60 in the 500 freestyle. He also placed second in the 1,000 freestyle (9:32.93) and scored a win in the 200 freestyle (1:42.51) at the City College Meet on Monday (Nov. 15) at Busbey Natatorium.

"He's been one of the most pleasant surprises of the newcomers this year," men's head coach Wally Morton said. "He's turning out to be one of the best distance swimmers that we've ever had here. He's capable of doing tremendous things."

The Swedish pair became the third and fourth Vikings to receive the honors this season. Senior Samantha Jones was named Swimmer of the Week for the women's team on Nov. 9, while senior Luke Wilkens was honored from the men's team on Nov. 2.

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.

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.

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 both the 500 freestyle (4:34.60) and 1,000 freestyle (9:27.19) and was named the league's men's swimmer of the week on Nov. 16.

In fact, eight Viking newcomers hold top ten Horizon League times this season, including:

Better Lehto Than Never: Women's head coach Mike Lehto is in his 11th season with Cleveland State, compiling a 73-76 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 202-120-1 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 Cleveland State swimmers and divers will have a month to prepare for their holiday training meet, set to be held at Florida International on Jan. 9