Canton, Ohio – It was another day of competition at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) / Mountain East Conference (MEC) Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday, Feb. 15 in Canton, Ohio at C.T. Branin Natatorium. Now half way through a grueling four-day event, the University of Findlay men's and women's swimming and diving teams both remain in first place, each creating more distance between themselves and their competition.
Findlay's men, ranked eighth in the country, are dominating the event and hold first place with 984 points scored, 300 points clear of Frostburg State which is in second. The Oilers' women, ranked thirteenth in the country, are in first with a total of 993 points, over 200 points ahead of three-time champ, Hillsdale College.
Thursday's Performances
Men
- There were no surprises in the 100 butterfly on the men's side as Findlay's transcendent talent, senior Tim Stollings, won the event for a fifth-consecutive season, this year completing the event in a time of 46.37, an automatic qualifier for the NCAA DII championship and the fastest time in the country this season.
- Junior Camilo Marrugo clocked in with a B Standard time of 46.73 to take runner-up in the event.
- The 400 individual medley provided another dominant showing, picking up another win, sophomore Matteo Filippi. He took the crown in the event with a time of 3:58.79 meeting the NCAA B standard.
- Freshman Santiago Arteaga picked up a win in the 200 freestyle by swimming a lifetime-best time of 1:39.81. That time is also good for the NCAA B cut.
- Senior Adam Hornak finished just behind his teammate, clocking in at 1:40.39.
- Randy Keener (So.), Luca Chiandussi (Sr.), Stollings (Sr.), and Marrugo (Jr.) flew in the 400 medley freestyle relay, winning the event by over 14 full seconds. They earned G-MAC Champion status with a time of 3:11.16, meeting the NCAA Provisional standard.
Women
- Coming off a pair of G-MAC titles yesterday, sophomore Emily-Mears Bentley picked up where she left off, winning the 100 butterfly with a 53.83, clocking the best time in Division II this season. Also a school record, the NCAA B Standard is the 22nd fast time in Division II history.
- Finishing runner-up in the event was freshman Sofia Lesmes Montes who came in with a time of 56.08.
- For the first time since joining the G-MAC, sophomore Katie Susi earned the G-MAC title in the 400 IM winning with a time of 4:32.69.
- Senior Megar Irwin clocked in with a time of 4:36.12.
- Junior Abbie Kmet won the title in the 200 freestyle, a tight race, with a time of 1:53.23.
- Sophomore Macee Reckard touched the wall just behind her teammate with a time of 1:53.42.
- For the first time since 2020, Findlay took the crown in the 400 medley relay. Earning the title with their time of 3:44.30, over ten seconds ahead of Hillsdale, was the team of Sasha Melnyk (Jr.), Susi (So.), Sophia Lesmes Montes (Fr.), and Mears-Bentley (So.). This meets the NCAA Provisional mark.
Findlay will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 16. The prelims will be held in a morning session with finals to follow in the evening. All coverage of the event can be found on findlayoilers.com including the live stream via the Great Midwest Digital Network.
