Indianapolis, Ind. – The University of Findlay men's and women's swimming and diving teams competed on the third day at the NCAA Division II National Championship on Friday, March 14. 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 moved up one spot into eight place in the team standings, currently with 145 points, while the men moved up into 24th with 16 points.
A two-time second team all-American in the 100 back, senior Sasha Melnyk fought her way onto the podium for the first time in her career in that event, setting a school record 53.73 in the event in the morning prelims. In the finals, Melnyk took fourth place with an even better time of 53.72 to earn first team all-American.
Sophomore Sofia Lesmes Montes also participated in the event in the morning prelims, finished 28th with a time of 55.84.
In the men's 100 back, junior Randy Keener just missed out on making the finals, finishing with a time of 48.15 which was good for 20th.
Junior Katie Susi qualified for the Findlay in the 100 breaststroke for a second-consecutive year. She would finish eighth with a time of 1:01.94 which is good for first-team all-American honors.
Fifth year senior Marko Priednieks swam in the prelims of the men's 100 breaststroke and finished 26th with a 54.68, a new personal-best.
The Oilers picked up a third first team all-American award in the women's 200 butterfly where junior Emily Mears-Bentley, who has already found her way onto the podium three times during the week, took seventh in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:00.32. It is the second-consecutive year that Mears-Bentley has earned first team in the event.
Closing out the night was the 200 freestyle relay competitions. Findlay's women picked up a podium finish as the team of Sydney Jones, Sasha Melnyk, Olivia Scheibelhoffer, and Troie Grubbs posted a time of 1:31.90 to earn first team all-American.
The men's team consisting of Randy Keener, Marko Priednieks, Luca Chiandussi, and Matteo Filippi finished 11th with a time of 1:24.28.
Tomorrow is the final day of competition with morning prelims beginning at 10:00 am.
