Oct. 30, 2007

Contact: Stefan Scheibelhoffer

SETTING THE SCENE: The women's and men's swimming and diving teams are back in action on Friday (Nov. 2) when they take on St. Bonaventure beginning at 6:00 p.m. at CSU's Busbey Natatorium.

Women - Green Bay 147, Cleveland State 69: (Oct. 27, 2007) Frances Carrion placed first in the 1000 free and finished second in the 500 free and Katie Bellew and Lesley Jones had two second place finishes as CSU fell to the defending conference champions Green Bay, 147-69.

Men-Cleveland State 132, Green Bay 102 (Oct. 27, 2007) Jakub Dobies won three events, diver Dan Baiko won both of his boards, Dave Duecker had two second place finishes and two of the men's relay teams had first place finishes as the Vikings downed Green Bay, 132-102.

HEAD COACH: Wally Morton: Entering his 27th season at the helm and 35th year in collegiate coaching, Morton has led the Vikings to 12 conference championships and 22 winning seasons during his tenure of the men's program. Morton, has led the Vikings to five straight seasons of 11 or more dual meet victories. This year, Morton has accepted a new challenge as he is leading the women's team as well.

PREVIEWING THE WOMENS TEAM: The CSU women have their sights set on improving on a sixth place finish after scoring 218.5 points at the Horizon League Championships last year. The squad is loaded with experience and features 10 returnees from a year ago as seniors Lesley Jones, Deanna Raedel, and Trisha Simon will anchor this years squad. Jones is the top sprinter with the second best times for CSU in the 100 freestyle (54.71), and will help anchor the 200 and the 400 freestyle relay, as well as 200 and 400 medley relay. Raedel will be swimming in the freestyle and the breaststroke event and Simon will anchor the diving portion of the Vikings meets. Returning twin sisters, juniors Sandra and Kristine Bunker, are two of the long distance swimmers. The two competed for top times in the 500 freestyle and the 1000 freestyle. Sandra Bunker also had the top time in the 200 freestyle (5:19.75), and 1000 freestyle (11:06.53). Junior Jen MacLauchlan will attempt to set school records in the 100 and 200 backstroke. The versatile swimmer is expected to help anchor the 200 and 400 freestyle relay. The senior had top times in the 100 butterfly (1:00.51), 100 backstroke (59.76), 200 backstroke (2:12.40), and 200 IM (2:15.16). Junior Katie Bellew won the 100 butterfly two years ago. Freshmen Frances Carrion and Erin Green will lead the Vikings in long distance events. The two will compete in the freestyle and long distance breaststroke events. The other notable freshman is Diana Mruk who will be competing in the freestyle event.

MORTON ON THE CSU WOMEN: "I want the women to practice hard on a daily basis. They need to remember that they are students first and athletes second. I also want them to be unselfish and help their teammates when needed. If you work hard and develop a pattern of daily activities, winning will take care of itself."

PREVIEWING THE MENS TEAM: The CSU men's squad will try to follow-up last years second place finish at the Horizon League Championship with a league championship after winning the championship two years ago. The 2007-08 squad features 14 returnees including David Duecker, who is the top distance swimmer and one of the best endurance athletes in the history of the program. Last year Duecker had top times in the 400 individual medley (3:59.71) and helped the 800 freestyle relay team gain a top time (6:46.15). Sophomore Jakub Dobies, the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year last year, set league records in the 100 (53.77) and 200 breaststroke (2:00.92). Dobies also had top times in the 200 individual medley (1:50.85), and helped the 200 medley relay (1:30.91), 400 medley relay (3:22.57), 400 freestyle relay (3:03.99), and 800 freestyle relay (6:46.15) gain top times. Senior Dan Baiko is one of the highest ranked divers in the conference and had the second best score on the one-meter (301.40) and the three-meter (312.30) boards. Senior Johan Norling is the top returner in the 100 freestyle as he posted the second best time in that event last season. Top newcomer Zvonimir Androic is expected to be a top competitor in the 100 and 200 backstroke. He is expecting to compete for a conference title in those events. Other newcomers to watch for are diver Brody Fiesler, and freestylists Robert Hundt and Michael Marsico.

MORTON ON THE MEN: "Our number one goal is to win the league championship. I want them to show up to practices wanting to work. They also must remember that they are students first, athletes second. I want them to be a productive part of society when their time here in athletics is over."

BEST IN THE LEAGUE: CSU men's swimmers assaulted the Horizon League in the top times list last year, with five Viking men holding the top time in seven events. Here is a look at CSU swimmers holding the league's top times in 2006-07.

Name Event Time/Score Nedim Nisc 100 yd butterfly 49.65
Jakub Dobies 100 yd breaststroke 53.77
Jakub Dobies 200 breaststroke 200.92
Dave Duecker 400 IM 3:59.71
400 yd medley relay 3:22.57
Chris Dalman 1 meter-dive 370.65
Chris Dalman 3 meter-dive 365.95

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Once again, the CSU swim team will be represented with student-athletes from around the world, as seven members of the men's team and three members of the women's team hail from outside the United States. Of the 10 swimmers, seven are from different countries. Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, Jakub Dobies, hails from Poland, while freshman Zvonimir Androic is from Croatia. Volkmar Baur is from Germany, Marko Milenkovic hails from Serbia, Nedim Nisc is from Bosnia, Johan Norling from Sweden, Stef Potgieter from South Africa, and twins Kristine and Sandra Bunker are from Canada.

MEN AND THE TOP 10 OF ALL TIME: Jakub Dobies set CSU's top time in the 100 yd breaststroke (2:00.92), and is third in the 200 yd IM last season. Several other men's swimmers either hold or are near the top of holding all-time records at CSU. Johan Norling, is ranked fifth in the 50 yd freestyle (20.84), seventh in the 100 yd freestyle (45.91), and fifth in the 100 yd butterfly.

DUECKER PLACES SECOND: David Duecker has been training for the triathlon for the last several months. Duecker proved his ability at the October 27th meet against Green Bay where he placed second in the 500 yard freestyle (4:45.89) and 1000 yard freestyle (9:50.89). Duecker finished second to league favorite Alex Hill as his times were actually better than the Valparaiso meet where he won first place.

DOBIES A GREAT PERFORMER: Jakub Dobies continued to impress against Green Bay a s he placed first in the 200 IM (1:58.29), and the 200 breaststroke (2:07.93).

RELAY TEAMS CONTINUE TO SHINE: Cleveland State's relay teams continue to impress as team "A" of Zvonimir Androic, Jakub Dobies, Nedim Nisic, and Stephen Grove placed first (3:29.77), while Ari Markle, Stef Potgeiter, Sam Baribault, and Johan Norling all finished second (3:37.16) in the 400 medley relay.

NISC PERFORMING WELL: Junior swimmer Nedim Nisc continued to be at his best as he helped Cleveland State's 400 yard medley relay team to a first place finish (3:29.77), helped CSU's 400 yard freestyle relay team to a first place finish (3:11.30), and won the 200 butterfly (1:55.81).

CARRION GETS HER BEST: Freshman Frances Carrion performed well at the Green Bay meet as she set her personal best time in the 500 free (5:20.01) enroute to a second place finish, placed first in the 1000 free (11:00.80), and helped the 400 yard freestyle relay team to a second place finish (3:47.48).

Kristine Bunker IMPRESSIVE: Kristine Bunker swam hard vs. Green Bay as she placed second in the 200 yard freestyle (2:02.41) and third in the 500 yard freestyle (5:33.30).

SECOND PLACE FINISHES: Senior Lesley Jones had two second place finishes as she placed second in the 50 yard freestyle (25.38) and 100 free (54.75) and junior Katie Bellew finished second in the 200 butterfly (2:14.57) and 200 yard breaststroke (2:33.23).