Freshman Lauren Halle wins 200 fly title, leads Women's Swimming and Diving on final day of OAC Championships

By Tim Glon

AKRON — Freshman Lauren Halle (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) won the 200 fly in 2:09.17 to lead the Ohio Northern women on the third and final day of the 2017 Ohio Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships on Saturday at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.

Sophomore Kierra Watson (Brownsburg, Ind.) earned All-Conference accolades in the 200 back, finishing second in 2:09.54.

Junior Sydney Veon (Riverside, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) and senior Stephanie Brookens (Louisville) earned All-OAC honors in the 100 free.

Veon touched in second in :53.21 and Brookens was close behind in third in :54.03.

Freshman Libby Sartschev (Parma/Normandy) finished second in the 3-meter diving with 308.65 points to earn All-Conference honors.

Ohio Northern finished third of seven teams with 569.5 points in the 20 events.

"We began the journey of the season knowing it was a different day in the OAC," ONU head coach Peggy Ewald said. "We had some great moments and a few surprises. But the 'wins' are not always shown in the score. We have won in more ways than can be count and deduced to numbers. We have reset the mission of this team and the foundation that built the traditions of excellence. The future is promising.

"The women's overall performances exceed expectations. They moved the score closer by staying focused, relaxed and swimming up to their potential. We have returned to the core values that took the team to the top. It's exciting to look into the future."

John Carroll won the team title with 869.5 points, Mount Union was second with 637.5 points and Baldwin Wallace was fourth with 412.5 points.

The top three finishers in each individual event and the top two relay teams earn All-Conference honors.

Team Standings

1. John Carroll 869.5, 2. Mount Union 637, 3. Ohio Northern 569.5, 4. Baldwin Wallace 412.5, 5. Transylvania (Ky.) 315, 6. Wilmington 226, 7. Manchester (Ind.) 116.