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Vikings Prepare For Road Trip To Youngstown

Vikings Prepare For Road Trip To Youngstown
Posted: Nov 04, 2008

Contact: Julie Farr DeLima

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Nov. 4, 2008

CLEVELAND, Ohio - -

Contact: Julie Farr DeLima

SETTING THE SCENE: The Cleveland State men's and women's swimming and diving teams are back in the pool on Friday, Nov. 7 when they travel to Youngstown, Ohio. The men will take on Niagara while the women will face off against both Niagara and Youngstown State. The meet begins at 6:00 p.m.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The women recorded victories over both Butler (159-58) and Canisius (140-93) on Oct. 31. The women won 11 events, including two relays and both diving events, in the tri-meet. On Nov. 1, the women fell 146-82 at St. Bonaventure, winning one relay and both diving events. The Viking men knocked off Canisius 143-73 on Oct. 31, winning nine races, two relays and both diving events. At St. Bonaventure on Nov. 1, the men fell 141-100 with wins in five races. Below is a brief recap of the most recent Viking action.

Men (2-1) - CSU 143, Canisius 73 (Oct. 31 in Cleveland, Ohio); St. Bonaventure 141, CSU 100 (Nov. 1 in St. Bonaventure, N.Y.): The Viking men had a busy weekend that included 15 race wins (nine against Canisius), two relays wins and two wins in diving events. Freshman Mark deSwardt won five races over the two days while Jakub Dobies won three and was a part of a winning relay team. In diving, Matt DiMasso won both the 1-meter and 3-meter events vs. Canisius.

Women (2-3) - CSU 159, Butler 58 (Oct. 31 in Cleveland, Ohio); CSU 140, Canisius 93 (Oct. 31 in Cleveland, Ohio); St. Bonaventure 146, CSU 82 (Nov. 1 in St. Bonaventure, N.Y.): The women's team improved its dual record to 2-3 over the weekend with wins over Butler and Canisius. In the Butler/Canisius dual, the Vikings won seven races, two relays and two diving events before picking up a relay win and victories in both diving events at St. Bonaventure. Carys Behn continued to lead the way in the pool, winning three events on the weekend and setting or improving CSU all-time marks in three events. The women spread the wealth with six different athletes winning at least one event. In addition to Behn, Rachel Arzadon also added her name to the CSU record book, swimming the ninth-best time in school history in the 100 breaststroke on Oct. 31.

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 four 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 11 of the 12 individual events they swam this year, and in both diving events. Carys Behn has the team's top times in four of the five freestyle events including the 100 (53.52), 200 (1:53.48), 500 (5:06.79) and 1,000 (10:28.06). Brittany Tweardy has the team's top time in the 50 free (25.25). Freshman Emily Splain has recorded both Viking top times in the 100 (1:01.44) and 200 (2:13.16) backstroke events. Rachel Arzadon has been the team's best breaststroker, leading both the 100 (1:09.27) and 200 (2:33.06) events. Behn and senior Katie Bellew share the top times in the butterfly events. Behn leads Bellew in the 100 (58.92) while Bellew's time betters Behn in the 200 (2:10.06). Behn also holds the team's top time in the 200 IM (2:11.75). 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.

MORTON ON THE CSU WOMEN: "The Youngstown State and Niagara Swimming and Diving programs are two good programs and we are looking forward to competing against both of them," head coach Wally Morton said. "YSU is a Horizon League opponent and they finished two places ahead of us last year at the Horizon League Championships. We are interested in measuring our progress against them. The races will be very competitive and the diving events will also be a good test."

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 their 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. Three weeks into 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 (21.11) while senior Nedim Nisic is tops in the 100 (47.53). Junior Todd Winchell has the team's top time in the 200 (1:45.03) and freshman Mark deSwardt is listed at the top of both the 500 (4:36.78) and 1,000 (9:27.23) lists. In the backstroke, Dobies is at the top of the 100 (55.08) while sophomore Zvonimir Androic has the team's top time in the 200 (1:55.33). Dobies has also recorded the Vikings' top time in the 100 breaststroke (56.89) while senior Marko Milenkovic is tops in the 200 (2:07.02). Winchell has the team's top time in the 100 butterfly (51.96) while deSwardt leads the 200 (1:54.68). In the 200 IM, Dobies leads the Vikings (1:57.59). Freshman Matt DiMasso leads the diving events, with season-best scores in both the 1-meter (252.90) and 3-meter (233.02) events.

MORTON ON THE CSU MEN: "Niagara will give us a chance to find out more abut our new swimmers and divers," head coach Wally Morton said. "We hope to have our team healthier than last weekend and we are prepared to improve on our starts, turns and finishes. The workouts have been geared to be more detail-oriented in all phases of our races. Niagara will give us a chance to work on those things. In diving, Matt DiMasso progressing rapidly and will be a big part of our lineup."

ALL-TIME TOP-10 NO MATCH FOR BEHN: Carys Behn has had a remarkable start to her freshman season with the Vikings. She added to her name to yet another event in the CSU all-time Top-10 lists, bringing her total to five events. She won the 1,000 free on Oct. 31, swimming the second-fastest time in school history (10:28.06), less than one second off the school record (10:27.39). Her win in the 500 free on Oct. 31 allowed her to climb to No. 3 on the school's all-time list (5:06.79), up from her No. 5 spot earlier this season. She also won the 200 IM on Oct. 31, swimming the eighth-fastest time in CSU history (2:11.75). All three times were CSU season-bests. To date, she is also listed No. 7 in the 100 freestyle (53.52) and No. 2 in the 200 freestyle (1:53.48).

deSWARDT WINS FIVE EVENTS IN TWO DAYS: Mark deSwardt continues to impress CSU coaches and opponents. During the course of two duals in two days last weekend, deSwardt won five events and finished second in another. He posted wins in the 200 free (1:44.27), 500 free (4:36.79) and 1,000 free (9:32.87) vs. Canisius on Oct. 31. The next day at St. Bonaventure, he won the 500 (4:42.71) and 1,000 free (9:37.66) events and took second in the 200 butterfly, setting a new CSU season-best time (1:54.68).

ARZADON MAKING MARK: Freshman Rachel Arzadon is quickly becoming a leader for the CSU women in the breaststroke events. In a dual on Oct. 31, Arzadon swam the ninth-best time in school history (1:09.27) to take second in the 100 breast and set a new season-best mark for CSU. She is also tied with senior Katie Bellew for CSU's fastest time this season in the 200 breast (2:33.06).

DOBIES RECORDS FOUR SEASON-BEST TIMES: Junior Jakub Dobies is finding his rhythm in 2008-09. Dobies won three events during the Vikings' two dual meets last week and recorded CSU top times of the season in four events. Dobies won the 50 free (21.11), 100 back (55.08) and 100 breast (56.89) against Canisius on Oct. 31, all in season-best time. His second-place finish in the 200 IM at St. Bonaventure on Nov. 1 was also a CSU season-best time (1:57.59). Dobies was also a member of the winning 400 medley relay at St. Bonaventure.

VICTOR CLEARED TO COMPETE: The women's diving team received good news last week when freshman Liz Victor was cleared to compete. Victor, a freshman from Mentor, was a two-time All-Lake Erie selection at Mentor High.

THIS WEEK'S HONORABLE MENTIONS: * Zvonimir Androic recorded CSU's top 2008-09 time during his win in the 200 back (1:55.33) vs. St. Bonaventure on Nov. 1. * Katie Bellew recorded CSU's top 2008-09 time during her second-place finish in the 200 fly (2:10.06) at St. Bonaventure on Nov. 1. * Kacey Cummings recorded CSU's top 2008-09 scores in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events on Oct. 31. Her 1-meter (256.50) and 3-meter (268.12) dives both earned her wins in the tri-meet. She also won both diving events at St. Bonaventure on Nov. 1. * Matt DiMasso is settling into his role as CSU's only diver on the men's side. DiMasso recorded season-best scores in both the 1-meter (252.90) and 3-meter (233.02) dives with wins in both events on Oct. 31. * Marko Milenkovic recorded CSU's top 2008-09 time during his win in the 200 breast vs. St. Bonaventure on Nov. 1. * Emily Splain recorded CSU's top 2008-09 time during her second-place finish in the 200 back (2:13.16) at St. Bonaventure on Nov. 1. * Brittany Tweardy recorded CSU's top 2008-09 time during her win in the 50 free (25.20) on Oct. 31. * Todd Winchell recorded CSU's top 2008-09 time during his win in the 100 fly (51.96) vs. Canisius on Oct. 31. * The women's 400 free relay of Carys Behn, Emily Splain, Kristina Nagy and Kristine Bunker recorded CSU's top 2008-09 time (3:39.90) during a win at St. Bonaventure on Nov. 1. * The men's 200 free relay of Stephen Grove, Keith Everhart, Mike Marsico and Nedim Nisic recorded CSU's top 2008-09 time (1:25.34) during a win vs. Canisius on Oct. 31.

2008-09 HORIZON LEAGUE HONORS: The Cleveland State Vikings have been honored twice 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

MEN'S & WOMEN'S HEAD COACH: Wally Morton (Miami, OH, '70) AT CSU: (as men's coach): 243-14-1 (28 years); (as women's coach): 6-13 (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 teams host the City College Championships on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 5:00 p.m. Joining CSU are Notre Dame College, John Carroll and Gannon. The teams are home again on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2:00 p.m. The men host both host Notre Dame and Miami (Ohio) while the women host Miami (Ohio).