Feb. 25, 2006
CLEVELAND - The final day of the 2006 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships saw a flurry of fast times from the Cleveland State women's team, as the Vikings concluded the tournament with a fifth-place score of 358.5, the highest point total in the program's championship history.
"This was definitely our best championship performance ever," women's head coach Mike Lehto said. "Everyone came away from this meet with a lifetime or season-best time. We had some excellent showings from all of our swimmers."
The future continues to look bright for the Vikings, as the freshman class added to its contributions. Katie Bellew, fresh off a school-record 100 fly performance last night, scored a second-place finish in the 200 fly with a 2:08.92, just two seconds behind the CSU mark.
The veterans also added to the success, as junior Marianne Lionell swam to a fifth-place finish in the 100 free with a time of 52.89, while senior Wendy Peel earned a season-best time in the 200 backstroke, swimming to a seventh-place time of 2:09.13.
"We are a very deep team," Lehto continued. "In years past, we would come away with championships in events, but there would not be the depth to back it in the points. This year, we were consistently good, and that is what it takes to win a title."
The Vikings notched two school records in the meet, with Bellew's time in the 100 fly (57.50) and a time of 1:36.95 by the 200 free relay team of freshman Jen MacLauchlan, Lionell, sophomore Deanna Raedel and sophomore Lesley Jones.
Women's Scores
UW-Green Bay - 805
Wright State - 772
UW-Milwaukee - 764
UIC - 479.5
Cleveland State - 358.5
Youngstown State - 197
Butler - 147
