Zips Close Out MAC Championships In Fifth Place

February 28 | Women's Swimming & Diving

OXFORD, Ohio -

Three more school records fell tonight as the UA swimming and diving team closed out the season with a fifth place finish at the 2010 Mid American Conference Championships held at Miami University's Nixon Aquatic Center.

Toledo took home the title with a score of 670.5 ahead of host Miami (572) and Ohio (527). Eastern Michigan (453.5) finished in fourth place while Akron and Buffalo tied for fifth place (392). Bowling Green (241) and Ball State (166) rounded out the field in seventh and eighth place respectively.

Senior Kendall Karchner stole the show tonight as the lone Zip to earn a victory and a spot on the All-MAC First Team. Karchner earned the win in the 200-yard backstroke in record-breaking fashion, besting her preliminary time to finish ahead of the competition in 1:57.76. Freshman Kelsea Cross swam alongside Karchner and earned a fifth place finish, swimming in a time of 2:01.53. Rebecca Zimmer, also a freshman, swam into 10th place in the consolation race with a time of 2:02.00.

Senior Stephanie Zielinski finished fifth in the 100-yard freestyle final with a 50.27 timestamp while freshman Katie Miles provided a solid performance in the consolation heat, winning the race (finishing ninth overall) in a time of 50.19. Both Zielinski and Miles garnered recognition on the All-MAC second team.

Freshman Rachel Szymkowiak also bested a school record tonight, doing so in the 200-yard breaststroke to register a 12th place finish in a time of 2:20.80 (2:20.87 by Melissa Young 2/25/06). Junior Julie Reynolds was active in the consolation race and finished 13th in a time of 2:21.74.

Senior Julia Gregos earned points with a 12th place finish in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 17:02.47.

Closing out the UA performers on the evening were senior Cathryn Collins who narrowly missed breaking a school record in her third place finish in the 200-yard butterfly in a time of 2:00.90 and sophomore Leeanna Hoover, the lone diver to represent Akron in tonight's finals who dove into fourth place with a score of 281.05.

Sadly, the Zips 400-yard freestyle relay team suffered a disqualification in the final event of the evening.

Final Standings
1. University of Toledo (670.5)
2. Miami University (572)
3. Ohio University (527)
4. Eastern Michigan University (453.5)
5. University of Akron (392)
5. University at Buffalo (392)
7. Bowling Green State University (241)
8. Ball State University (166)

First Team
Jacy Dyer, Toledo
Carly Harter, Toledo
Annie Donovan, Ohio
Kelsey Vehr, Miami
Rachel Heim, Ohio
Meili Carpenter, Buffalo
Kendall Karchner, Akron
Caroline Simmons, Buffalo
Amanda Traylor, Ohio
Samatha Partridge, EMU
Chelsey Bower, Ohio
Megan Brunn, Miami
Kelsey Atchison, Toledo
Alie Schirmirs, Buffalo
Sarah Kowalski, EMU

Second Team
Stephanie Zielinski, Akron
McKenzie Bagan, Toledo
Briana Emig, EMU
Laura Lindsay, Toledo
Maegan O'Connor, Miami
Ashley Cusak, Toledo
Laura Heckroth, Toledo
Claire Leichty, Toledo
Katie White, Toledo
Katie Miles, Akron
Meg Richardson, Bowling Green
Leah Thornton, Miami
Danielle Hulvey, EMU
Kelsey Anagnos, Miami
Louise Smyth, Toledo
Lindsay Hamilton, Ohio