ASHLAND, Ohio – The goal for Ashland University's swimming and diving teams heading into this week's NCAA Championships was to finish higher than they have in their histories.
The AU women did just that this week, finishing the championships fifth in the country at the Palo Alto Natatorium in San Antonio. The Eagles were previously seventh last season and also in 1997. The men finished the meet ranked 11th nationally.
Drury was the team national champion on both the men's and women's sides.
The men's squad had its best result of the night in the 400 freestyle relay. The Eagles came home with the bronze medal with a time of 3:23.53 – more than three full seconds faster than their qualifying swim. The quartet consisted of junior Maura Anderson (Lakewood, Ohio), sophomore Julie Widmann (Littleton, Colo./Heritage), sophomore Mary Cargill (Wadsworth, Ohio) and freshman Gabriela Verdugo Arzaluz (Chihuahua, Mexico).
The Eagles also had two scorers in the 100 freestyle. Widmann was seventh in the event, picking up 12 points. She swam in 50.66 seconds. Verdugo Arzaluz finished 11th with a time of 50.99 seconds.
Every point the Eagles picked up was crucial at the end as they clipped Incarnate Word by just five points to finish in fifth place.
On the men's side, sophomore Cheyne Fisher (Durban, South Africa/Westville) had the best finish of any Eagle on the night. He won the silver medal in the 200 breaststroke, clocking in at 1:57.44 and earning his team 17 points. That time was nearly two seconds faster than his qualifying swim at the GLIAC Championships last month.
Sophomore Tyler Remmel (Hubertus, Wis./Hartford Union) was 15th in the event with a time of 2:04.69.
The men's 400 freestyle relay team finished in a time of 3:02.27, which was 11th at the meet. That team consisted of freshman Alex Sheil (Sydney, Australia/Trinity), sophomore Tyler Bailey (Westlake, Ohio/University School), senior Chewy Vogele (Westchester, Ohio/Lakota West) and sophomore Mauricio Uranga (Chihuahua, Mexico/La Salle Chihuahua).
On the whole, the meet was a success for the Eagles, who saw their fourth national championship on the women's side. On Thursday (March 10), the women's 200 freestyle relay won its second straight national crown.
Women's Standings (Final)
- Drury – 483.5
- Wayne State – 388
- UC-San Diego – 338
- Clarion – 272
- ASHLAND – 240
- Incarnate Word – 235
- Florida Southern – 206
- West Chester – 195
- Grand Valley State – 184
- 10. Indianapolis – 166
- 10. Henderson State – 166
- 10. Grand Canyon – 166
Men's Standings (Final)
- Drury – 600.5
- UC-San Diego – 345
- Wayne State – 295
- Grand Canyon – 292.5
- Wingate – 252
- Bridgeport – 213
- Grand Valley State – 211.5
- Florida Southern – 200
- Missouri S&T – 178
- Incarnate Word – 166.5
- ASHLAND – 163.5
- Ouachita – 147
AU
SWIM/BB