Feb. 2, 2008
Complete Results | Senior Day Recap
Contact: Gene Natale, Jr.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State lost to UIC, 141-83, and lost a by a close score of 117-108 to Youngstown State in a double dual meet Saturday afternoon at Busbey Natatorium. Several top times were posted by Viking swimmers throughout the afternoon despite the overall losses.
Cleveland State drops to 4-10 (0-5 HL), while UIC improves to 5-6 (3-3 HL) and Youngstown State improves to 4-7 (2-2 HL).
"I am really proud of our women, especially our seniors. Deanna Raedel, Lesley Jones, Trisha Simon, and Alex Bagi all have had wonderful performances today and in their careers and go out winners," head coach Wally Morton said.
The Vikings were led on the Senior Day meet by a junior. Katie Bellew scored two of the meet's most exciting victories. Her win in the 200 butterfly (2:12.61, a personal best) came with a burst of energy in the last 50 yards as she touched out UIC's Kathryn McLeyland by only seven tenths of a second.
Her win in the 200 breaststroke was even more of a nail-biter, as her personal best time of 2:28.58 was less than two tenths of a second faster than UIC's Beth Paglini.
Senior Lesley Jones also swam very well on the afternoon, scoring second place finishes in the 50 free (24.66) and 100 free (53.97). Both times were tenths of a second from her season bests in each event.
Jones and fellow senior Deanna Raedel joined Katie Bellew and Sandra Bunker to score a second place finish in the 400 medley relay (4:09.49). Raedel was also a part of a second place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:45.01). Senior Alex Bagi as well as juniors Kristina Nagy and Kristine Bunker were also on the 400 free relay team.
UIC had an insurmountable lead for the entire afternoon as the Flames defeated CSU. Despite that fact, the Vikings' head-to-head matchup with Youngstown State was very close throughout the day, and came right down to the final event, the 400 free relay. The Penguin's win in that event secured their victory over the Vikings.
"Our women are very competitive and fit. Even though we lost, we went right down to the end of the meet with a chance to win. This makes me very confident that we will do very well at the Horizon Championship," Morton said.
Frances Carrion was another top finisher for the Vikings as she placed third in the 500 freestyle (5:24.92). Kristine Bunker also scored a third place finish, in the 200 free (1:59.93).
The Vikings have two weeks off from competition, and will return to action at the Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships at Busbey Natatorium from Feb. 20-23.
