The Ashland University Eagles made a big splash in Day 1 of the 2015 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving championships in Jenison, Michigan.
AU freshman Ryan Deemer and junior Hannah Mattar both were crowned champions in the 1,000-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley, respectively.
Mattar won the prelims of the women's 200 IM and set a new GLIAC record in the finals with a time of 2:02.55. That broke the previous record of 2:02.88, set in 2012 by Grand Valley State's Gloria Martinez Perez.
Deemer came into the finals of the men's 1,000 free with the eighth-quickest time in preliminaries action. Deemer swam a 9:58.15 in the prelims, but picked up a full 34 seconds in the finals. His mark of 9:24.61 was the quickest conference time turned in the 2014-15 swim season.
In the women's 50-yard freestyle, freshman Grace Reichard finished fourth overall. She turned in a time of 23.80, which would have been quick enough as a 2014 NCAA championships Division II "B" time.
The men's 200-yard medley relay, consisting of Sergio Sanchis Peris, Greg Walters, Calvin Higdonand Matthew Wilcox, finished third with a combined time of 1:32.03. Wayne State won the relay in 1:27.89.
After one day of action, the Eagle women sit in sixth place overall with 47 points. Wayne State currently leads with 172 points. The Eagle men rank fourth with 62.5 points. Grand Valley State is first with 299.5 points.
The Eagles will be back in the water on Thursday (Feb. 12) at 10:30 a.m., starting with the 400 IM prelims.
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