BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's and women's swimming and diving teams return to the pool for the first time in 10-months when the 2021 Ohio Athletic Conference season dives into action on January 30.
Head Coach Laura Demaline, who is in her 10th season, returns 14 letterwinners (eight men and six women), three All-OAC performers (two women and one male) and one male Academic All-OAC selection from last year's squads that finished third for the women and fourth for the men at the OAC Championships.
The men's squad that features three seniors, five sophomores and two freshmen will be led by sophomore All-OAC diver and OAC Diver of the Year Zachary Pierce (Willis, Texas/Klein Collins). Pierce won the OAC title in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events and qualified for the NCAA Division III Diving Regionals. He set career-bests in both events during the championships.
The senior class is led by Academic All-OAC freestyler Matthew Butt (Westfield Center/Cloverleaf), freestyler Conner Hartup (Westlake) and Michael Morsch (Phoenix, Ariz. / Notre Dame Preparatory).
Butt is a three-year letterwinner and member of the school-record holding 200-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relay teams. He is coming off his best season as he set career-bests in the 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard, 100-yard and 200-yard freestyles and the 100-yard individual Out of the pool, Butt is a two-time Academic All-OAC selection, Dean's List Student, Jacket Scholar and a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and the Chi Alpha Sigma honoraries.
Hartup is a three-year letterwinner. He set career-bests a season-ago in the 100-yard, 200-yard and 400-yard individual medleys and the 500-yard, 1000-yard and 1650-yard freestyles
Morsch is a three-year letterwinner, the school-record holder in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes, the BW Natatorium-record holder in the 200-yard medley and a member of the school-record holding 200-yard medley, 400-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relay teams. He set career-bests in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard individual medley last year.
In addition to Pierce, the sophomore class of freestyler Jay Johnson (Baton Rouge, La. /Lee), stroker Nathan Massey (Columbus/Centennial), stroker Alec McNeill (Avon Lake) and freestyler Austin Olsavsky (Medina), who is a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team and an OAC Swimmer of the Week Award winner, will be called upon to provide depth and leadership.
Freshmen Grant Doolittle (Tekonsha, Mich. /Marshall) and Alec Sedki (Tonawanda, N.Y. /Sweet Home), who both swim the backstroke and freestyle events, look to make an immediate splash this season.
The women's squad that features three juniors, four sophomores and seven newcomers will be led by junior All-OAC and four-time OAC Champion freestyler Bella Ratino (Mentor/Hawken). Ratino returns as two-time defending champion in the 500-yard and 1650-yard freestyles. In just two seasons, Ratino is a six-time All-OAC swimmer and a three-time All-OAC relay performer. She is the school-record holder in the 200-yard backstroke, 400-yard individual medley and 500-yard, 1000-yard and 1650-yard freestyles. Ratino is also a member of the school-record holding 800-yard freestyle relay team.
In addition to Ratino, junior freestyler Kayla McClintock (Venetia, Pa. /Peters Township) and sophomore stroker Julia Newbould (Strongsville) return as All-OAC performers.
McClintock had a breakout season as she earned her conference honor in the 1650-yard freestyle in a career-best time. She also had career-bests in the 50-yard and 200-yard backstrokes as well as the 50-yard, 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles. McClintock was named the BW Women's Most Improved Swimmer Award winner.
Newbould saved her best performances until the end of the season when she earned conferences honors as a member of the 200-yard freestyle and 200-medley relay teams. She also set three personal bests during the OAC Championships. Newbould is a member of the school-record holding 200-yard freestyle relay team.
Junior Emily Newcamp (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), sophomores Natalie Kehoe (Parma/Padua Franciscan), LynnDee Popovich (Middleburg Heights /Reichelshelm Academy) and Aubrey Syron (Dayton/Archbishop Alter) all have gained experience and will be called looked to have a major impact this season.
Newcomers in senior diver Madysen Colegrove (Brunswick), sophomore diver Abby Casey (Wickliffe) and freshmen Jami Melzer (Bradenton, Fla. /Lakewood Ranch), Tia Reed (Bluffton, S.C.), Julia Sheringer (Zionsville, Ind. /Cardinal Ritter), Lauren Slife (Westfield Center/Cloverleaf) and Kate Wells (Pittsburgh, Pa. /North Hills) look to make waves this season.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BW will be competing in four OAC duals and one OAC Open meet without spectators. The Yellow Jackets will host meets against the University of Mount Union on January 30 and defending OAC Champion and crosstown rival John Carroll University on February 13. BW hits the road for meets against Ohio Northern University on February 6 and Wilmington College on February 20. The OAC Fast Open will be held on March 6 at site yet to be determined.
The OAC Championships will be contested on Friday through Saturday, March 25-27 at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
