BEREA, OHIO - The Baldwin Wallace University men's and women's swimming teams combined to defeat Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.) University today (Friday, October 17, 2008) in the season-opener for both teams in Wheeling, West Virginia. The men won by a score of 116-89 and the women won, 118-79. The meet was featured as the "Meet of the Week" in Swim World magazine.
The Yellow Jacket men's team had two winning relay teams and captured titles in five individual events.
The BW women had two winning relay teams and four individual titles.
Highlighting the day for the men was junior 2007-2008 All-Ohio Athletic Conference pick Vince Colwell (Parma/ Normandy) who took the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle titles in times of 22.83 and 50.52 respectively. Sophomore Hector Diaz (El Paso, Texas/ Cathedral) swam a 2:08.89 to win the 200-yard individual medley and sophomore Roman Koval (Parma/ Padua Franciscan) finished the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:05.16, good for first place. Senior 2007-2008 All-OAC selection Sean Sonnenberg (Napoleon) won the 1,000-yard freestyle event with a 10:22.10 performance. In relay events, Colwell teamed with Koval, sophomore Matt Diamond (Ashtabula/ Lakeside) and sophomore Ryan Musille (Canton/ GlenOak) to take the 200-yard medley relay in 1:42.03. Sonnenberg and Musille worked with junior Jordan Irwin (Westerville/ South) and sophomore Mike Demitrieff (Parma/ Normandy) to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:32.23.
In women's action, senior Kate Ritchey (White Oak, Pa./ McKeesport) won the 50-yard freestyle in only 26.77. In the 100-yard butterfly, sophomore Kelly Likes (Huron/ Sandusky Perkins) took first place in 1:05.92. Senior Kelsie Baker (Dover) needed just 59.78 to finish first in the 100-yard freestyle. FreshmanTara Stitzlein (Millersburg/ West Holmes) began her career at BW by winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:18.51. In relay events, Richie, Baker and Stitzlein teamed with freshman Katie Cvelbar (South Euclid/ Regina) and won the 200-yard medley relay in 2:03.40. In the 200-yard freestyle relay Likes joined Ritchie,Baker and Stitzlein for a 1:51.02 first-place finish.
The BW swimmers and divers are back in action tomorrow (Saturday, October 18) for the OAC Relay Meet with Wilmingto, Mount Union, Ohio Northern and John Carroll. Action begins at 1:00 p.m. in the Natatorium of the Lou Higgins Center in Berea. Next weekend, both teams will host Mount Union College on Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m.
FOR MORE Baldwin Wallace University Sports Information, please call Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple at 440-826-2327 or e-mail him at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach Sara Gildea, please call her at 440-826-2387 or e-mail her at sgildea@bw.edu. You can access all of the latest BW sports information by visiting our athletics Web site at www.bw.edu/.athletics.
