Men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams beat Univ. of Chicago

The Olivet College men's and women's swimming and diving teams defeated the Univ. of Chicago today at the Battle Creek Lakeview High School Pool. The men edged the Maroons, 160-132, and the women won, 224-73.

On the men's side, Olivet took first-place in 10 events. Freshman Brian Johnson (Lansing/Eastern) and sophomore Dustin Meisner (Temperance/Erie Mason) were first in two individual events apiece. Johnson captured the top spot in the 100-yard backstroke (:55.96) and 200-yard backstroke (2:02.91). Meisner clocked-in first in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.67) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:13.39).

Also finishing first was freshman Steven Davis (Davidsonville, Md./DeMatha), 1,000-yard freestyle (10:12.05), freshman Justin Hulsebos (Wayland), one-meter optional dives; sophomore Koji Takahashi (Etobicoke, Onatario/Silver Thorn CI), 200-yard butterfly (1:59.21); and junior Andy Weiss (Fremont), one-meter voluntary dives.

Swimming in his first collegiate meet, freshman Yury Bylina (Minsk, Belarus) took top honors and broke the school record in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:00.94. Meisner, Takahashi, junior Ananta Fetters (Fennville/Holland) and sophomore Mitch Powers (Kalamazoo/Central) were first in the 400-yard medley relay (3:37.07).

The women's team finished first in 12 events, including both relays. Junior Kristin Bloomquist (Holt), freshman Amy Johnson (Gaylord) and sophomore Katie Kilmartin (Wayland) were double winners in individual events. Bloomquist took top honors in both rounds of the diving competition. Johnson was first in the 50-yard freestyle (:25.43) and 100-yard freestyle (:56.04). Kilmartin claimed first in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.62) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:33.03).

The other first-place finishes were by junior Laura Herzog (St. Joseph), 200-yard freestyle (2:02.91); senior Jill Lingbeek (Plainwell), 200-yard butterfly (2:17.58); freshman Kalee Redder (Grandville/Jenison), 100-yard backstroke (1:05.62); and junior Katherine Roesch (Oakland Twp./Lake Orion), 200-yard individual medley (2:24.64).

Herzog, Lingbeek, Roesch and freshman Erin Tramper (Grandville/Jenison) clocked-in first in the 400 medley relay (4:15.90). Herzog, Johnson, Lingbeek and Redder took first in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:50.65)

Olivet returns to the pool Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13-14, at the Univ. of Chicago Invitational. The invitational is being broken down into three sessions. The first one is Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. CT and two Saturday sessions beginning at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT.