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Women's Swimming and Diving Head to Akron This Weekend

Jodi Turk finished fifth in the 1,000 freestyle as a freshman
Jodi Turk finished fifth in the 1,000 freestyle as a freshman
Posted: Jan 23, 2013

Contact: Jeff Sattora

 
 

SETTING THE SCENE:The Cleveland State Vikings' women's swimming and diving team will be on the road this weekend when they head to Akron University to take on the Zips at 1:00 p.m. The CSU women are heading into the weekend with an 11-3 record on the year, while Akron enters the meet 2-4.

LAST TIME OUT:The women's team took down both Youngstown State and Wright State this past weekend during its final weekend of home competition for the 2012-13 school year. The Vikings defeated Youngstown State 204-96 and Wright State 213.5-86.5.

THE WOMEN: For a team led by seniors it was only fitting that they shined on their senior day, with both Alice Sommerville andJoanna Olsson picking up multiple individual wins.

Sommerville picked up two solo wins, winning both the 100 breaststroke (1:03.69) and 100 butterfly (56.97). Olsson also picked up two victories for CSU, taking home first in the 200 butterfly (2:06.96), and 200 IM (2:11.22).

Both shined in relays as well, as Olsson also teamed up with Sommerville, Alexandra Johansson, and senior Jamie Puls to win the 200 medley relay (1:46.84). While Sommerville swam with Christine Kopacko, Alexandra Johansson, and senior Gretchen Hestley to win the 400 freestyle relay (3:33.30).


 
 
 

It wasn't all seniors who shined individually for the Vikings as others also took home multiple wins. Freshman Jodi Turk swam strong, winning both the 500 freestyle (5:05.44), and 1,000 freestyle (10:26.95). While Alexandra Johansson was also a triple winner for the home team, winning the 50 freestyle (24.48) to go along with her two relay wins.
 

SPECIAL SENIORS:The 2013 senior class for the Cleveland State Vikings is one of the most accomplished in program history. In the past four years the women have compiled a 52-15 dual meet record.

The group has also improved each season at the year-end Horizon League Championships. After a fifth place finish as freshman, they improved to third as sophomores and second last season. They will look to bring home first place this year at the Championships, February 27th to March 2nd at UIC.

STREAKING:The CSU women's team had one stretch in the middle of this season with a dominating winning streak of seven straight victories. Heading into Saturday's meet they have won 10 of their last 11 match-ups.

AWARDS ALL AROUND:Two CSU women's swimmers and one diver have been honored this season as Horizon League Women's `Swimmer of the Week' or `Diver of the Week.' These athletes are-

• Joanna Olsson - Swimmer of the Week - Week of Oct. 15
• Samantha Sposet - Diver of the Week - Week of Nov. 5
• Alexandra Johansson - Swimmer of the Week - Week of Nov. 12

FAB FRESHMAN: Two freshmen have jumped right in and are currently leading the Vikings' women's team in swimming and diving categories on the season. Sammi Sposet owns the top 1-meter (250.04) and 3-meter (258.75) diving scores for the women, and in the pool Jodi Turk has the team's top time in the 500-yard (5:05.44) and 1,000-yard freestyle (10:26.54).

UPPERCLASSMEN LEADING THE WAY:Seniors and juniors have led the way this year on the women's side. Multiple upperclassmen are currently leading in more than one event for CSU.

Looking at the women, there have also been a variety of juniors and seniors leading the way. Seniors Alice Sommerville and Joanna Olsson lead that class with multiple top times for CSU. Sommerville currently has the team's top time in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, and the 200 IM, while Olsson has the team's top times in the 200 butterfly and 400 IM. Juniors Alexandra Johansson and Nikki Kolis also hold multiple top times individually as upperclassman for CSU. Johansson has the team's top time in the 50 and 100 freestyle, 50 and 100 butterfly, and 100 backstroke. Kolis has the team's top time in the 1,650 freestyle and 50 backstroke.

RECORD-BREAKING WEEKEND: With the women's team swimming strong at the first annual Magnus Cup Invitational, it's no surprise that Cleveland State school records were able to fall. Two women brought home school records on the weekend. 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 WOMEN: The Vikings are represented among the league leaders in multiple Horizon League swimming events.Alexandra Johansson has the leagues' top times in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly. On the relay side, the Vikings currently have the top times in each one listed, the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, and are tied for the top spot in the 200 medley relay.

NEXT UP: The Viking men and women will be back in the pool February 2nd at 2:00 p.m. when the teams face UIC on the road in its final dual meet of the season.