Michael Schultz opens NCAA Championships with solid swim in the 500 freestyle

Mar. 20, 2008

By Tim Glon

OXFORD — Ohio Northern freshman Michael Schultz finished 31st nationally in the 500-yard free style on the first day of the NCAA Division III Men's SXwimming and Diving Championships Thursday afternoon at the University of Miami's Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center.

Schultz finished in 4:43.16, more than six seconds off his qualifying time and ONU record of 4:36.38.

"This was a great learning experience for him," ONU head coach Peggy Ewald said. "He's never had swimmers in front of him, so that was a new experience. He's the first Ohio Northern men's swimmer to compete at the NCAA Championships, so this is new for this program, as well."

Schultz went out in 24.77 in his first 50 yards and settled into a pace that was in the 28-second range for most of the race.

"He went out a little bit fast," Ewald said. "That's part of the learning experience. We need to take this, learn from it and improve on tomorrow's swim."

Schultz will compete in each of the three days of the NCAA Championships.

He will swim in the 200 freestyle on Friday morning and the 1650 freestyle on Saturday morning.

Schultz was named the OAC Men's Swimmmer of the Year in February, leading the Polar Bears to their third consecutive OAC Championships title.

He won six events, including the 1650 free, the 500 free and the 100 fly, and was part of ONU's winning 400 free, 800 free and 400 medley relay teams.

Schultz shattered a 24-year old OAC record, broke his own ONU record and bettered the NCAA "B" cut in the 1650-yard free, winning the event in 16:00.82. He topped the previous mark of 16:23.06 set in 1984 by Andy Regrut of Kenyon.

He also broke the Ocasek Natatorium record in the 1000 free with a 9:39.25 clocking at the 1,000-yard mark of his 1650 swim. The previous mark of 9:39.33 was set in 2001 by Tom Rushton of Kenyon.