Indianapolis, Ind. – The University of Findlay men's and women's swimming and diving teams competed on the second day at the NCAA Division II National Championship on Thursday, March 13. The event is being held at the Indiana University – Indy Natatorium as a part of the NCAA DII Festival which is being held in Indianapolis, Ind.
Findlay's women currently sit in ninth place in the meet with 81 points while the men are in 33rd.
The finals got started with an impressive performance from junior Emily Mears-Bentley in the 100-yard butterfly. She would finish fourth in the event with a time of 53.59, earning first team all-American for the second consecutive year in the event. Sophomore Sofia Lesmes Montes finished 24th in the event in the morning prelims, clocking in with a 55.51.
That was not the only podium finish for the Oilers on Thursday as the 400-yard medley relay team teamed up for a historic performance. Seeded tenth in the event, the Oilers swam in the secondary heat, but the team of Sasha Melnyk, Katie Susi, Mears-Bentley, and Sydney Jones touched the wall in 3:38.64, winning the heat and finishing third in the event. That time puts Findlay on the podium with first team all-American honors and establishes a new program record by more than two seconds.
Findlay's men also participated in the 400 medley relay and finished 15th as the team of Randy Keener, Marko Priednieks, Dags Bregis, and Santiago Arteaga recorded a time of 3:14.23.
Junior Matteo Filippi participated in the morning prelims in the men's 400 individual medley and finished 22nd with a time of 4:00.40
Findlay is back in the pool tomorrow for the third day at the event.
