CLEVELAND, Ohio- On the final day of the 2014 Horizon League Swimming and diving Championship, the Cleveland State men's swimming and diving team finished runner-up, recording 647 points.  Oakland finished first to win the Conference Championship.

CSU was led by Al Shillito in the 200 back who finished fourth in the event.  In the 100 free Alex Lewis stayed hot in his swimming events that he has competed in all week tied the conference record with a time of 43.33.  CSU's Berry Thompson holds the 100 free record time Lewis tied.  Lewis has set four records in the HL Championships.  In the 200 breast Nathan Grant just gets touched out by Green Bay's Ryan Korslin, taking second with a NCAA B-cut time of 1:59.11.  Grant's time puts him in position to have a chance to qualify the NCAA National Championships.  In the 200 fly, senior Justin Kermack finished runner-up with a fine time of 1:48.08.  The Vikings finished out strong in the 400 free relay with a runner-up time of 2:58.70.  CSU were led by Alex Lewis, Robert Tolson, Adam Ingledew, and Nathan Grant.      

Head Coach Wally Morton recapped the team's performance through the four days and spoke about his last meet of coaching of his collegiate career. "We had an incredible finish to our season with Alex Lewis being voted by the fellow coaches as swimmer of the year for the Horizon League.  This is the second year in a row.  Al Shillito got it last year and Mark De Swardt was swimmer of the meet last year and Alex Lewis was swimmer of the meet this year.  I was humbled to get the coach of the year award.  I did not expect it at all because I always feel the coach that wins it, but the team did over achieve for as much we had to work with on the roster in our men's team.  They really did over achieve and did some incredible fantastic things.  Alex is close in the 50 free to possibly compete in the NCAA National Championships.  I sure hope he will and will be praying he gets a chance.  He set the Horizon League records in the 50 free, 100 fly.  He tied the conference record with CSU's Berry Thompson and was up in the stands, which was a magical moment.  It was a solid week for the men and am very happy coming in second place," said an emotional Morton.

"Kyle Riordan was our third leading scorer on our team.  He was a walk-on with this team.  He came in and got better and better.  He came to us, just to ask for an opportunity.  He was one of our best performers.  Overall, it was a great job by both of our teams.  We have a good team.  It was a great road to finish up my career."      

Men's Swimming and Diving Award Winners
Freshman of the Year: Tuomas Kiviluoma, Oakland
Diver of the Year: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
Swimmer of the Meet: Alex Lewis, Cleveland State
Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year: Alex Lewis, Cleveland State
Diving Coach of the Year: Todd Hill, Milwaukee
Swimming Coach of the Year: Wally Morton, Cleveland State