OU swims past Cincinnati

By Dan Tallant

Contributing Reporter

Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams faced off with the University of Cincinnati Jan. 19 and claimed victories in their first home meets since Nov. 3. 

The men’s team defeated the Bearcats by a score of 172-121. The Golden Grizzlies were led by senior Ryan Kish who set two season bests and won both the one- and three-meter springboard events. The scores posted by Kish (332.48, 340.05) qualified him for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships.

Along with the success of Kish, four other swimmers also had first place finishes. Junior Aaron Holdsworth placed first in the 200-yard butterfly (1:52.55), junior David Tatarczyk in the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.06), senior Chris Tansel in the 100-yard butterfly (50.26) and senior Zoltan Horvath,who was the only other double victor, winning the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events (57.21, 2:04.95).

By winning the one- and three-meter springboard events (294, 263.55), freshman Chelsea Oates led the women’s team to a 167-128 victory over Cincinnati. Oates’ one-meter springboard score was also enough to qualify for the NCAA Zone C Regional Diving Championships.

The Grizzlies received added success from sophomore Sarah Ludema and freshman Emily Wike, who were the double victors for the women. 

Ludema won the 50-yard freestyle (24.31) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:08.23) while Wike placed first in 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events (1:07.35, 2:26.99).

Other first place finishers included junior Sophia Gustafsson in the 200-yard butterfly (2:08.23), senior Carolyn Routh in the 1000-yard freestyle (10:37.76), sophomore Agnes Sloan in the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.41), and senior Katie Wilke in the 500-yard freestyle (5:14.28).

The victories put both teams back in the win column after coming off losses in their last meet against Notre Dame. 

Both teams travel to Michigan State University to take on the Spartans Friday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m.