SETTING THE SCENE: The Vikings will hit the road this week as both the men's and women's teams will be taking swimmers to the AT@T Winter National Championship in Austin, Texas from November 29th through December 1st.
REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings last were in the pool November 16th through the 18th when the team hosted the first annual Magnus Cup Invitational. The men were able to take home first place at the invite, with the women coming in second.
MEN - First place
1.- CSU- 1656.5
2.- Xavier- 1355
3.- Michigan State- 1046.5
4.- Ohio State- 772
The Cleveland State Vikings' men's squad was able to take home a first place finish at the first annual Magnus Cup Invitational. Junior Al Shillito had a record breaking performance all weekend, breaking the 100 backstroke (49.13) record Saturday, and the 200 backstroke record Sunday (1:47.04). Those two records were just two of the six wins the junior was able to bring home in the three days. Along with the wins mentioned above he also individually won the 50-yard backstroke (23.15), and was part of winning relays, the 800 freestyle relay (6:49.11), 200 medley relay (1:30.44), and 400 medley relay (3:19.74).
As great as Shillito was the entire event, senior teammate Berry Thompson was just as strong and consistent. Thompson was in five winning relays on the weekend. Individually he was just as dominant all weekend long. The senior brought home wins individually in the 50 freestyle (20.36), 100 butterfly (49.38), and 100 freestyle (44.19). Thompson's 100 freestyle time was good enough to hit the NCAA "B" cutoff mark of 44.29. He was also able to go undefeated in every "finals" event he participated in on the weekend, a perfect eight for eight.
WOMEN- Second Place
1. Michigan State- 1741.5
2.- CSU- 1328
3.- Xavier- 881
4.- St. Francis (Pa.)- 837.5
5.- Duquesne- 710.5
6.- Youngstown State- 772
Leading the way to a second place finish, the Vikings' women's team also had multiple swimmers who stood out and performed at a high level. Junior Alexandra Johansson was one of those swimmers who shined, leading the way for CSU women all weekend long. She was able to bring home one school record (100 backstroke in 55.67), and seven victories in total in the three days. The junior picked up two relay wins- the 200 freestyle and 200 medley, as well as five individual wins. Along with her 100 back record she individually won the 50-yard freestyle (23.54), the 100 butterfly (55.00), the 50 butterfly (24.73), and the 100 freestyle (51.14).
A second swimmer for the Vikings who really swam well all weekend long was senior Alice Sommerville. The senior joined Johansson with a record breaking performance, taking down the school record in the 200 breaststroke by two seconds with a time of 2:19.89. She also joined Johansson on those two relay wins, and brought home multiple top level individual finishes. On the weekend she won the 100 breaststroke (1:03.52), and had top two finishes in the 400 freestyle relay (3:22.32), the 200-yard IM (2:05.79), the 50-yard freestyle (23.57), the 400 medley relay (3:48.46), and the 100 butterfly (55.91).
AWARDS ALL AROUND: Multiple Vikings have been awarded on this young season as Horizon League 'Swimmer of the Week.' Both senior Joanna Olsson and junior Al Shillito picked up the league wide honors for the week of October 19th following their performances at Green Bay the weekend before. Each swimmer picked up three wins in the meet vs the Phoenix. CSU also took three of the four weekly awards this past week following performances at the Magnus Cup Invitational. On the men's side junior Al Shillito picked up his second weekly honor of the season swimming, with freshman Danny Roberts picking up his first career Horizon League 'Diver of the Week' accolade. For the women, junior Alexandra Johansson took home her first weekly honor of the season, taking home the women's Horizon League 'Swimmer of the Week' honor following her performance at the Magnus Cup Invite.
FAB FRESHMAN: The Cleveland State Viking freshman seem to be mixing in seamlessly with the veteran groups on both the men's and women's squads. Two freshman have jumped right in and are currently leading the Vikings on the diving side of things. Danny Roberts has the top 1-meter and 3-meter diving scores for the men, with Sammie Sposet doing the same for the women. In the pool on the men's side freshman Martin Persson has the team's top 200 freestyle time (1:42.54), For the women, freshman Jodi Turk has the team's top time in the 500-yard (5:06.26) and 1,000-yard freestyle (10:26.94).
UPPERCLASSMAN LEADING THE WAY: Seniors and juniors have led the way this year on both the men's and women's sides.
On the men's side senior Berry Thompson currently has the team's top time on the year in both the 50 and 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly. A second senior, Mark De Swardt, currently has the team's top time in both the 500 and 1,000 freestyle, as well as the 400 IM. Juniors Brian Ferro, Justin Kermack, and Al Shillito are two other swimmers that lead the team in multiple events on the young season. Ferro leads in the 50. 100, and 200 breaststroke, Kermack leads in the 200 butterfly and 200 IM, with Shillito leading in the 50, 100, and 200 backstroke.
Looking at the women, there have also been a variety of juniors and seniors leading the way. Senior Joanna Olsson has led the way with for the Vikings with the team's top time in the 200 and 400 IM. Three juniors, Alexandra Johansson, Alice Sommerville, and Christine Kopacko, also hold hold multiple top times individually as upperclassman for CSU. Johansson has the team's top time in the 50 freestyle, and 100 backstroke. Sommerville currently has the team's top time in the 100 and 200 breastrokes. Kopacko currently has the teams' top times in the 1,650 freestyle and 50 backstroke.
RECORD BREAKING WEEKEND: With both teams swimming strong at the first annual Magnus Cup Invitational, it's no surprise that Cleveland State school records were able to fall. Junior Al Shillito led the way for CSU, with two record breaking performances. First Shillito set the 100 backstroke school record Friday, which he then broke again on Saturday (49.13). Sunday was also a record breaking day for the junior as he then set the 200 backstroke record (1:47.04). The women's team wasn't left out of the record breaking performances as two women also brought home school records. Junior Alexandra Johansson broke the school record in the 100 backstroke (55.67), while senior Alice Sommerville broke the 200 breaststroke record by two seconds in 2:19.89.
LEAGUE LEADING MEN: The Viking men's swimming team currently has multiple top times on the Horizon League leaderboards according to collegeswimming.com. The men dominate the Horizon Leagues' current rankings, leading every category on collegeswimming.com. Senior Berry Thompson has the leagues' top time in the 50, 100, and 200 yard freestyles and 100 butterfly, Mark De Swardt has the leagues' top times in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle, and 400 IM. Al Shillito leads the leagues' backstroke categorys with the top times in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. Brian Ferro has the leagues' top time in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, with Justin Kermack also leading two categories, the 200 butterfly and 200 IM. Jon Querciagrossa also has the leagues' top time in the 1,650 freestyle. Looking at the relays, the Vikings currently have the top times in each one listed, the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays, and the 200 and 400 medley relays.
...AND LEAGUE LEADING WOMEN: The Cleveland State women's Vikings team also has a high number of league leaders in different swimming events. Alexandra Johansson has the leagues' top times in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly, Nikki Kolis currenly has the leagues' top time in the 1,650 freestyle for CSU, with Alice Sommerville having the leagues' top time in the 200 IM and Joanna Olsson having the leagues' top time in the 400 IM. On the relay side, the Vikings currently have the top times in each one listed, the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays, and the 200 and 400 medley relays.
NEXT UP: The Vikings will be back home in December as they host the Cleveland College Dual Meet Invite December 4th at 3:00 p.m. CSU will be taking on Canisius, Case Western, John Carroll, and Notre Dame (Ohio).
