Akron Swimming and Diving Captures Seventh Consecutive MAC Championship Title

Saturday, February 29

Buffalo, NY

University of Akron

MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS - DAY 4

Akron Swimming and Diving Captures Seventh Consecutive MAC Championship Title

March 01 | Women's Swimming & Diving

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Results (PDF)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The No. 25-ranked University of Akron women's swimming and diving team captured its seventh Mid-American Conference title on Saturday evening in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Zips claimed the title posting 811 points throughout the four days of competition. Buffalo came in second with 738.5 points, while Eastern Michigan took third with 485.

In the 1650 freestyle, junior Brooke Lamoureux (Victoria, Canada) was the highest placing Zip, turning in a fourth-place time of 16:39.82.

Sophomore Sarah Watson (Winnipeg, Manitoba) followed the 1650 up with a strong performance in the 100 free, turning in an NCAA B-Cut time of 48.91. Senior Morgan Waggoner (Fremont, Ohio) placed second and also turned in a B-cut time, finishing close behind at 49.50.

Akron had a strong showing in the 200 breaststroke, as junior Paula Garcia (Madrid, Spain) broke the pool record (previously 2:11.20) by swimming a first-place time of 2:10.68, also hitting the NCAA B-Cut standard. Sophomore Andrea Fischer (Oak Grove, Minn.) also turned in a B-cut time, placing second with a time of 2:12.04.

The Zips followed that up with another strong performance in the 200 fly, as they had each of the top three finishes. Junior Paulina Nogaj (Radom, Poland) took the gold while breaking a pool record in the process, turning in a time of 1:57.45. Senior Mackenzie Vargas (Roseville, Calif.) put up a strong performance in her final MAC Championship, finishing with a B-cut time of 1:58.73. Fellow senior Jessica Bonezzi (Wooster, Ohio) rounded out the top three with a B-cut time of her own, touching the wall at 1:58.81.

In the final event of the championship, the 400 freestyle relay, the Zips capped off this week's strong performance with a first-place finish while also turning in a B-cut time of 3:17.42, thanks to the quartet of Watson, Waggoner, Sofia Henell (Linkoping, Sweden), and Nogaj.

Akron awaits for the NCAA Championships invitations to be announced on Wednesday, March 6, at noon.

Team Standings

1. Akron (811.5)
2. Buffalo (738.5)
3. Eastern Michigan (485)
4. Miami (408)
5. Bowling Green (293.5)
6. Toledo (283)
7. Ohio (262.5)
8. Ball State (223)

MAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year
Andy Bashor, Buffalo

MAC Women's Diving Coach of the Year
Buck Smith, Eastern Michigan

Most Outstanding Swimmer
Sarah Watson, Akron

Most Outstanding Diver
Talisa Lemke, BGSU

Most Outstanding Senior
Talisa Lemke, BGSU

Co-Freshman Swimmers of the Year
Weronika Goecka, Akron
Emma Fortman, Ohio

Freshman Diver of the Year
Tori Franz, Buffalo

All-MAC First Team
Jessica Bonezzi, Akron
Paula Garcia, Akron
Paulina Nogaj, Akron
Sarah Watson, Akron
Talisa Lemke, Bowling Green
Daisy Platts, Bowling Green
Brittney Beetcher, Buffalo
Toni Naccarella, Buffalo
Katie Pollock, Buffalo
Olivia Sapio, Buffalo
Nicole Roitenberg, Buffalo
Alyssa Shugarman, EMU
Claire Young, EMU
Camila Lins de Mello, Miami
Izzy Jones, Toledo

All-MAC Second Team
Andrea Fischer, Akron
Olivia Gardner, Akron
Weronika Gorecka, Akron
Sofia Henell, Akron
Brooke Lamoureux, Akron
Mackenzie Vargas, Akron
Morgan Waggoner, Akron
Katie Burns, Buffalo
Andrea Ernst, Buffalo
Tori Franz, Buffalo
Jillian Lawton, Buffalo
Ali Staver, Eastern Michigan
Sophia Tsafantakis, Eastern Michigan
Emma Fortman, Ohio
Hannah Fuchs, Ohio
Katie Garrity, Ohio