This is the time of the year when swimming coaches and swimmers spent a lot of time on line, researching times across the country. Those who are qualified for nationals fear that someone, with a final chance, will jump up in front of them on the qualifying list and take their spot. Coaches check out each conference championship meet and/or last chance meet and try to get a feel for what's taking place.
Saturday (Feb. 22) at AU, the Eagles held their own last chance meet. The Eagles, like everyone else, are following results around the nation. This event included swimmers from the host Eagles, Findlay, Hillsdale, Malone, Wayne State, Akron and Northern Michigan.
Ashland could have as many as 14 student-athletes going to nationals. Again, the next few days will determine the size of the group head coach Paul Graham will take to the NCAA event.
Sophomore Hannah Mattar, who will be competing at the NCAA Championships in March at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, set a school record in the 200 butterfly on Saturday. Her time was 2:03.24.
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