Canton, Ohio- As a whole, no swimming and diving program in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) has had as much success as the University of Findlay Oilers. The quest for championship trophies began on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the G-MAC / Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship meet which will be held through Feb. 15 at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio.

Findlay's women, ranked 12th in the country, have won four titles and are looking to defend their championship this year, while the men, currently ranked 24th in Division II, have claimed seven consecutive titles.

The first day of competition went the way of the Orange and Black. On the women's side, Findlay dominated, taking control of the meet by scoring 504 points, more than 180 points clear of second-place Hillsdale College. The men's scores are closer, but it is the Oilers who hold the lead with 471 points scored, 77 points ahead of Ashland University.

Wednesday's Performances
Women

• In the 200 medley relay, Sasha Melnyk, Katie Susi, Sofia Lesmes Montes, and Troie Grubbs defended their title with a time of 1:40.97. The time also meets the NCAA provisional mark. Findlay's women have never lost this event at the conference meet, winning seven straight from 2028- present. The time also sets a new pool and meet record.
• Emily Mears-Bentley claimed her third straight title in the 200 individual medley, recording an NCAA B standard time of 2:03.79—the 18th-fastest in Division II this year.
  • Sofia Lesmes Montes touched the wall shortly after with a time of 2:05.74.
• In the 50 free, Grubbs, who tied for first two seasons ago before winning last year, claimed victory again with a meet-record time of 23.41, an NCAA B standard.
  • Olivia Scheibelhoffer finished runner-up with a time of 23.49, also an NCAA B standard.
  • Sydney Jones placed third with a time of 23.60, meeting the NCAA B standard.
  • Sasha Melnyk took fourth with a time of 23.69, also achieving the NCAA B standard.
• Jones, Grubbs, Scheibelhoffer, and Melnyk teamed up for the 200 free relay in which they finished the event in 1:33.09, a meet record and NCAA provisional mark.

Men

• Findlay won the men's 200 medley relay as Marko Priednieks, Luca Chiandussi, Peter Helmuth, and Zein Kawas teamed up to touch in a time of 1:30.43 Findlay's men have never lost this event at the event at the conference meet, winning seven straight from 2018-present.
• Matteo Filippi, Findlay's record-holder in the event, won the title in the 1000 free with a school and meet record time of 9:18.00. His time, the 18th best in the country this year, also meets the NCAA B standard. This is the third consecutive title Filippi has earned in this event.
• Randy Keener won his second consecutive G-MAC title in the 200 IM, winning with a meet record of 1:48.21, an NCAA B standard.
• Dags Bregis won the men's 50 free in a tight race, taking the crown with a time of 20.93.
  • Santiago Arteaga finished runner-up with a time of 21.01.
• Kawas, Arteaga, Bregis, and Keener won the 200 free relay, touching the wall in 1:22.49.

Findlay will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 13. 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 on the Great Midwest Digital Network.