Feb. 16, 2008

By Tim Glon

AKRON — The Ohio Northern men’s swimming and diving team (5-4 overall, 3-1 OAC) won its fourth consecutive OAC Championships title, winning the 2008 OAC Championships Thu.-Sat. at the University of Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium.

The Polar Bears also won a share of the 2008 OAC regular season title with a 3-1 record.

Northern won the meet with 305 points, well ahead of Baldwin-Wallace in second with 201. Mount Union was third with 156 points, John Carroll was fourth with 116 points and Wilmington was fifth with 78 points.

Freshman Michael Schultz (New Berlin, Wis./Martin Luther) was named the OAC Men’s Swimmmer of the Year. He won six events, including the 1650 free (16:00.82), the 500 free (4;36.38) and the 100 fly (52.36), and was part of ONU’s winning 400 free (3:12.54), 800 free (7:13.39), and 400 medley relay (3:34.97) 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 1,000 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.

Schultz also set the OAC record and surpassed the NCAA “B” cut in the 500 free.

Head coach Peggy Ewald and assistant coaches Russell Hunt, Tiffany Patterson, Sean Quinn and Justin Hiskey were named the OAC Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.

Senior Mike Anderson (Jenison, Mich.) won the 200 I.M. (1:59.70) for the second straight year and was part of the winning 800 free and 400 medley relay teams.

Anderson ends his career as a 12-time OAC Champion and a 20-time All-OAC honoree.

Junior Brett Kuhn (Tiffin/Columbian) won 100 free (48.72) and was part of the winning 200 free, 400 free and 400 medley relay teams.

He is now an 11-time OAC Champion and an 18-time All-OAC performer.- Freshmen and George Chesney (North Olmsted) rallied on his final dive to win the 3-meter diving competition 474.05-473.80 over Todd Reichert of BW. Chesney scored 64.50 points on his final dive in the 11-dive event to overcome a 64.25 point deficit and win his first-ever OAC crown.

He also earned All-OAC honors with a second place finish in the 1-meter diving on Fri. with 448.10 points.

Chesney surpassed the NCAA “B” cut in both events.

Senior John Miller (Lebanon) was on the winning 200 and 400 free relay teams and ends his career as a 9-time OAC champion. He was also third in the 50 free to earn All-OAC honors 12 times in his career.

Chesney has surpassed the NCAA “B” cut multiple times in both the 1- and 3-meter diving and will likely qualify for the NCAA Championships March 20-22 at Oxford, Ohio.

Sophomore Andrew Stephon (New Philadelphia) was part of the winning 800 free relay team.

Freshman Garrett Dauch (Norwalk/Saint Paul) was part of ONU’s winning 200 free, 400 medley and 800 free relay teams and earned All-OAC honors in the 200 back with a second place finish in 2:01.62 and in the 100 back with a third place finish in 56.50.

Freshman Casey Davis (Canton/Jackson) was part of ONU’s winning and school record setting 800 free relay team and also earned All-OAC honors in the 500 free with a third place finish in 4:52.19.

Freshman John Fusco (Medina/North Olmsted) was part of ONU’s winning 200 free relay team and earned All-OAC kudos in the 100 free with a second place finish in 48.87.

Freshman Stuart Deal (Massillon/Washington) earned All-OAC honors with a third place finish in the 100 breast in 1:00.98.

Freshman Ryan Oberst (New Berlin, Wis./West) was All-OAC in the 200 I.M. with a second place finish in 2:01.71 and in the 200 medley relay.

Freshman Nick Swint (Fremont/Saint Joseph) earned All-OAC kudos in the 400 I.M., finishing third in 4:24.17.

In all, ONU won 10 of the 20 events and had All-OAC performers (top three finishes) in 19 of the 20 events.

Chesney and Schultz will now wait until the NCAA Division III Championships field is released on March 1 to see who will compete March 20-22 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Both men are strong contenders to make the NCAA Championships field.