Men’s and Women Swimming and Diving Sweeps Bluffton and Heidelberg on Dave Tressel Locker Room Dedication Day

Dave Tressel's family and friends at dedication of Dave Tressel Locker Room (Photo Courtesy of Donovan Birkett '26)

Posted: Dec 02, 2023

BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's swimming and diving team closed out the home portion of its 2023 schedule as it swept a tri-meet over Bluffton University and Heidelberg University in the BW Natatorium inside the Lou Higgins Center.

The BW men (8-1, 2-1 OAC) won the non-conference meet over Bluffton (0-7) by a final score of 230-17 and captured the Ohio Athletic Conference dual over Heidelberg (0-5) by a final score of 209-38. The Yellow Jacket women (8-1, 2-1 OAC) took the non-conference meet over Bluffton (0-7) by a final score of 219-50 and secured the Ohio Athletic Conference dual over Heidelberg (0-5) by a final score of 205.5-59.5.

During the meet, the swimming and diving teams made a special presentation as it dedicated it's new locker room to the Athletics Alumni Hall of Famer and the late Dave Tressel '73. Members of Dave's family and friends were present for the dedication

Men Individuals

Senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC stroker Mason Kooyman (Concord Township/Chardon) won the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 22.14 and the 50-yard butterfly in a time of 24.37
Junior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC stroker Tommie McQueary (Batavia/Bethel Park) won the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 52.24
Junior All-OAC diver Jason Heisler (Saline, Mich.) won the 1-meter and six-dive event with 239.30 points
Junior stroker Austin Kingsley (Northpoint, N.Y.) won the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 55.59
Sophomore freestyler Kevin Meyer (Mentor) won the 1000-yard freestyle in a time of 11:19.05
Sophomore stroker Jason Tafoya (El Paso, Texas) won the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:10.96
Sophomore Tyler Warner (Mexico, N.Y./Mexico Academy) won the 50-yard breaststroke in a time of 31.34
Freshman stroker Own Rogonjic (Mentor) won the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:09.52
Freshman stroker Branyan Rowland (Bucyrus/Colone Crawford) won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:21.68
Junior freestyler Erik Tagg (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) was second in the 50-yard backstroke in a time of 29.96 and the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:59.94
Junior freestyler Gannon Mellet (Pittsburgh, Pa./Moon Area) was second in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 50.53

Men Relays

The 200-medley team of Tafoya, Warner, McQueary and Mellett won in a time of 1:42.98
The 200-freestyle unit of Kooyman, junior stroker Gavin Skwirut (Latrobe, Pa./Latrobe Area), Kingsley and junior stroker Luke Minick (Stow/Akron Archbishop Hoban) won in a time of 1:30.78

Women Individual

Senior All-OAC stroker Tia Reed (Bluffton, S.C.) won the 50-yard breaststroke in a time of 33.60 and the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:12.33
Junior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC stroker Mallory Dondorfer (Mentor) won the 50-yard butterfly in a time of 28.94 and the 1000-yard freestyle in a time of 11:55.86
Sophomore freestyler Rachel Fibbi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) won the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:56.92 and was second in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 2:14.08
Junior stroker Athena Pantoja (Ashtabula/Lakeside) won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:28.40
Sophomore stroker Ariel Lisy (Strongsville) won the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 1:01.66
Freshman diver Ella Steen (Madison/Painesville Riverside) won the 1-meter and 6-dive event with 178.30 points
Freshman stroker Ashley Slife (Westfield Center/Cloverleaf) was second in the 50-yard backstroke in a time of 32.07 and second in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:09.99
Senior Academic All-OAC stroker Lauren Slife (Westfield Center/Cloverleaf) was second in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 27.72
Freshman stroker Lainey McDaniels (Cuyahoga Falls) was second in the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 1:12.22

Women Relays

The 200-yard medley team of Dondorfer, Reed, McDaniels and Pantoja won in a time if 2:00.52
The 200-yard freestyle squad of McDaniels, sophomore freestyler Emily Kusar (Perry), Ashley Slife and Lauren Slife won in a time of 1:53.94

BW is back in action on Sunday, December 17 when it travels to Sarasota, Florida for a non-conference dual meet against Randolph Macon (Va.) University as a part of its annual winter training trip at the Arlington Park Aquatic Complex.