Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Cleveland State University

The Official Home of the Cleveland State University Vikings

Swim Teams Have Oakland Up Next

Swim Teams Have Oakland Up Next
Posted: Jan 12, 2009

Contact: Julie Farr DeLima

Complete Release in PDF Format Get Acrobat Reader

Jan. 12, 2009

CLEVELAND, Ohio - - SETTING THE SCENE: The Cleveland State men's and women's swimming and diving teams host Oakland University in their second of three consecutive home meets on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 5:00 p.m. in the Robert F. Busbey Natatorium.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings were back at home last week with a home meet against Xavier. Originally scheduled as a double-dual, Duquesne pulled out of the event due to poor travel conditions. Below is a brief recap of the most recent Viking action.

MEN (8-3) - CSU 139, Xavier 62 (Jan. 10 in Cleveland Ohio): In action last week, CSU hosted Xavier on Jan. 10, sweeping the Musketeers in every event for the 139-62 win. Both Todd Winchell (200 free, 100 fly) and Mark deSwardt (1,000 free, 500 free) won two events apiece for the Vikings and Winchell was also part of the winning 200 medley relay team.

WOMEN (6-6) - Xavier 132, CSU 73 (Jan. 10 in Cleveland Ohio): In its first of three home events this month, CSU hosted Xavier on Jan. 10, falling 132-73 despite three wins by Carys Behn - the 200 free (1:54.59), 100 fly (59.13) and 500 free (5:09.37).

MORTON ON OAKLAND UNIVERSITY: "Oakland is one of the top mid-major programs in the nation and every year they have Division I NCAA qualifiers. We have not competed against them in recent years but we scheduled them to have top level competition for the swimmers in our program. At this point in the season we're into heavy training and we aren't swimming rested. Our goal is to perform at a high level when tired and we're hoping that the opportunity to race excellent swimmers will bring out the best in our team."

PREVIEWING THE WOMEN: Head coach Wally Morton and his staff worked hard in the off-season to bring in additional talent to compete alongside CSU's capable returning athletes and improve on last year's seventh-place finish at the Horizon League Championships. The 2008-09 squad includes five seniors, one junior, three sophomores and eight freshmen. The newcomers continue to live up to expectations and carry the load. Freshmen have the team's top times in 14 of the 17 individual events they swam this year, and in both diving events. Carys Behn has the team's top times in five of the six freestyle events including the 50 (24.39), 100 (53.11), 200 (1:52.52, school record), 500 (5:04.53, school record) and 1,000 (10:28.06) while sophomore Erin Green has the top time in the 1,650 (18:20.90). Freshman Emily Splain has recorded two of the three top times in the backstroke events. Splain swam a 1:00.69 in the 100 and 2:13.16 in the 200 for the best times of the season. Whitney Hickey has the team's best time in the 50 backstroke (28.38). Rachel Arzadon has been the team's best breaststroker, leading in the 50 (32.12), 100 (1:09.27) and 200 (2:30.13) events. Three different swimmers hold the team's top times in the butterfly events. Splain has the best 50 butterfly time (27.04), followed by Behn in the 100 (58.92) and senior Katie Bellew in the 200 (2:10.06). Behn also holds the team's top time in the 200 IM (2:11.75) while Kristine Bunker has the top time in the 400 IM (4:55.30). In the diving events, freshman Kacey Cummings has recorded season-bests in both the 1-meter (256.50) and 3-meter (268.12) events this season.

PREVIEWING THE MEN: A conference contender for the last 35 seasons with 18 championships since 1974, the CSU men enter the 2008-09 season poised to make a run at its second Horizon League title in four seasons. All the pieces are in place including Nedim Nisic, a 2008 Summer Olympian, and Jakub Dobies, a two-time NCAA Championship competitor. In addition to eight freshmen, the Vikings return three sophomores, three juniors and three seniors. CSU's talented returning class picked up where it left off last season and is enjoying the addition of its talented freshman class. The Vikings' considerable depth is visible in the 2008-09 top times list. At the halfway mark of the season, six different athletes are listed with top times in the swimming events this season. In the freestyle events, junior Jakub Dobies leads the way in the 50 (20.70) and 100 (45.88) while Todd Winchell has recorded the top 200 time (1:43.36). Freshman Mark deSwardt is listed at the top of the 500 (4:27.12), the 1,000 (9:18.19) and the 1,650 (15:20.75). In the backstroke, junior Todd Winchell leads the 50 (24.32) and 100 (51.33) while freshman Colin Hanner has the team's top time in the 200 (1:53.44). Dobies has also recorded the Vikings' top time in the 50 (25.78) and 100 breaststroke (55.92) while senior Marko Milenkovic is tops in the 200 (2:05.36). Grove has the team's top time in the 50 fly (22.95) while Winchell has the team's top 100 fly (48.80, school record) and deSwardt leads the 200 (1:51.38). In the IM events, deSwardt leads the Vikings in both the 200 (1:55.60) and 400 (3:59.43). Freshman Matt DiMasso leads the diving events, with season-best scores in both the 1-meter (252.90) and 3-meter (233.02) events.

MEN SPREAD WEALTH IN SWEEP: Perfection is hard to come by in college athletics, but the CSU men's swimming team pulled off the feat on Jan. 10 with an 11-event sweep of Xavier in a dual meet. Seven different swimmers recorded victories in the meet, with two athletes winning two events apiece - Todd Winchell (100 fly in 51.21; 200 free in 1:43.36) and Mark deSwardt (1,000 free in 9:25.53; 500 free in 4:38.84). The team's other winners were Stephen Grove in the 50 free (21.59), Marko Milenkovic in the 200 IM (1:55.95), Nedim Nisic in the 100 free (47.53), Zvonimir Androic in the 100 back (53.31) and Jakub Dobies in the 100 breast (56.95). Mike Marsico and Keith Everhart also got in on the winning as part of the 200 free relay.

BEHN STANDS ATOP PODIUM THREE TIMES: Carys Behn was the face of the Vikings on the podium against Xavier, winning all three of CSU's events. Behn started the day with a victory in the 200 free (1:54.59). Three events later she out-swam the field in the 100 butterfly (59.13) and after another short rest captured the 500 freestyle (5:09.37). With four dates remaining before the Horizon League Championships, Behn leads all CSU swimmers in seven different events and holds All-Time Top-10 times in seven events with two school records.

HICKEY TOUGH COMPETITION IN FIRST TRY: For the first time this season, Whitney Hickey swam the 100 butterfly for the Vikings. She picked up a third place finish, swimming the team's fourth-fastest time of the season (1:01.33). Of the top four times this season, three are held by freshmen. Hickey also leads the team with the fastest 50 back of the season (28.38).

LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Senior Kristina Nagy is doing her best to lead by example this season. On Saturday she posted CSU's best finishes in two different events, the 50 freestyle (25.75, 4th) and 100 freestyle (56.83, 4th). In the 50 free, she led four CSU swimmers and was the best of CSU's three in the 100 free.

OLYMPIAN NISIC EXCELS: CSU Olympian Nedim Nisic hadn't swam the 50 back this season until he drew the leadoff leg of the 200 medley relay against Xavier. The senior took advantage of the opportunity, swimming a 25.00 leg, missing the fastest CSU time of the season by less than a second. Later in the day, Nisic swam a 47.83 to win the 100 free and was also a member of CSU's winning 200 free relay. In his career to date, Nisic has penned his name into the All-Time Top 10 lists in four individual events and one relay.

SPLAIN'S TIMES KEEP FALLING: Freshman Emily Splain has continued to improve all season and against Xavier she just missed a win for the Vikings. Splain recorded a respectable 1:01.95 to finish second in the 100 back, just off the team's (and her) top time of the season, 1:00.69. She also has the team's best time of the year in the 200 back (2:13.16) and 50 fly (27.04). With four events remaining before the Horizon League Championships, Splain has added her named to three different All-Time Top 10 lists this season.

WINCHELL PROPELS HIMSELF TO TOP: Todd Winchell entered Saturday's meet with Xavier holding CSU's fourth-fastest time of the season in the 200 free. After an impressive swim and a first-place finish, Winchell propelled himself to the top of the list with a 1:43.36, 0.41 second ahead of teammate Jakub Dobies. A double winner on the day, Winchell also won the 100 butterfly (51.21) and swam the third leg of CSU's winning 200 medley relay (1:34.68). Winchell holds the team's top times of the season in the 50 back (24.32), 100 back (51.33) and 100 fly (48.80). In his career to date, he has recorded two All-Time Top 10 marks with one school record.

THIS WEEK'S HONORABLE MENTIONS: • Senior Katie Bellew swam her best time of the season in the 200 IM, recording a 2:17.36 against Xavier for a third-place finish. • Freshman Derek Butts recorded a time of 23.18 in the 50 free on Jan. 10 versus Xavier. The swim was his fast- est of the year and earned him a sixth place finish. • Freshman Maria Culjak swam the opening leg of the 200 medley relay, the 50 backstroke, in her season-best time of 29.04 on Jan. 10. The relay team finished second to Xavier. Culjak also swam her best time of the season in the 100 back (1:01.96) against Xavier. • Senior Marko Milenkovic won the 200 IM against Xavier on Jan. 10, swimming his fastest time of the sea- son (1:55.95). • Freshman Pieter Ritz swam his fastest 1,000 freestyle of the season (10:09.71) on Jan. 10, finishing fourth against Xavier. • The women's 200 free relay of Kristina Nagy, Emily Splain, Whitney Hickey and Kristine Bunker finished second to Xavier on Jan. 10 with a time of 1:47.78.

2008-09 HORIZON LEAGUE HONORS: The Cleveland State Vikings have been honored three times by the Horizon League this season. The following CSU athletes have earned Swimmer of the Week honors. Carys Behn - Oct. 22 Mark deSwardt - Oct. 29, Nov. 19, Dec. 10 Vikings athletes have also earned academic honors from the league. This season, the following swimmers have been named Horizon League Scholar Athlete of the Month. Stephen Grove - October

MEN'S & WOMEN'S HEAD COACH: Wally Morton (Miami, OH, '70) AT CSU: (as men's coach): 249-136-1 (28 years); (as women's coach): 10-16 (2nd year) Morton, who is in his second season as the head coach of the women's program and his 28th season as the head men's coach, has led the Vikings to 12 conference championships and 24 winning seasons in his 27 years at the helm of the men's program. Morton, who also serves as CSU's Director of Aquatics, has led the Vikings to seven straight seasons of 10 or more dual meet victories and one of his men's swimmers has earned the league's Male Swim Athlete of the Year award in five of the last six seasons.

NEXT UP: The Vikings host Wright State and Youngstown State in the last of their three home meets of the semester on Jan. 24 at 2:00 p.m. in the Robert F. Busbey Natatorium. The women will compete against both teams while the men will swim only against Wright State.