Nov. 12, 2010
ATHENS, Ohio - Two of the state's women's swimming and diving powers locked horns Friday night, but it was No. 21 Ohio State that got the best of Ohio in a 213-87 decision.
The `Cats, currently receiving votes in the latest CSCAA Swimming Polls, saw an impressive home winning streak dating back to the 2006-07 season come to an end. Ohio's last home loss before Friday's setback came on Jan. 6, 2007 to the Buckeyes.
OSU controlled nearly all the events on the evening, managing to just outtouch the `Cats in several close races. Rachel Heim (San Diego, Calif.) turned in a strong performance, taking the top spot in the 100 Butterfly with a 55.60, outtouching the Buckeyes' Michelle Williams, an NCAA qualifier in the event.
"I thought we competed very well in spots tonight. Against a strong team like Ohio State, you can't be good in spots. You have to be strong across the board," Ohio coach Greg Werner said. "Tip your cap to them today. They were very impressive. This meet did help show us where we're at a little bit. We've been doing a lot of things very well and have done some great things to this point in the season. If we want to be there at the end of the season and win a conference championship, we've got to continue to work hard and find a way to improve, individually and collectively."
The first event of the night, the 200 Medley Relay saw the Buckeyes stake claim to a 15-2 lead, an advantage they would never relinquish. OSU took the top two places, with the `Cats' A team of Anastasia Bocharnikova (Nizhny Tagil, Russia), Petra Chomicz (Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England), Heim and Annie Donovan (Findlay, Ohio) taking third at 1:45.20, the second-fastest time in the MAC this year.
Two more top-two finishes in the second event, the 1000 Free, helped OSU extend its lead. Ohio's Stacey Huber (Gainesville, Fla.) took third with a season-best 10:17.57. Stella Johnson (Jacksonville, Fla.) also turned in her best time of the season while coming in fifth at 10:32.47.
Heim had a solid performance in the 200 Free, coming in second at 1:53.85, just a shade off her career best. Sophomore Megan Gegesky (Grosse Ile, Mich.) turned in a season-best 1:57.21 to take fourth. Bocharnikova splashed her way to a personal- and season-best 57.62 to take second in the 100 Back to help Ohio in the fourth event.
OSU took the top two spots in the 100 Breaststroke, despite a solid performance from Chomicz at 1:07.28, her second-best time of the year. The sixth event, the 200 Fly, was almost all Buckeyes as they accounted for the top three spots in the event. Amanda Cecere (Chelmsford, Mass.) was Ohio's top finisher in fourth with a 2:07.87.
The 50 Free provided some excitement as Donovan dueled the Buckeyes' Megan Detro stroke for stroke before Detro managed to inch past her at the very end. Donovan's 23.82 was her second-fastest time of the year. Katey Brooks (North Royalton, Ohio) also turned a good showing with her best time of the season in the event with a 24.19. OSU led 99-32 after seven events.
Lindsay Hamilton (White City, Saskatchewan) took on one of the top divers in the country in OSU's Bianca Alvarez on the 1-Meter boards and turned a very strong showing with a season- and MAC-best 291.75. Alvarez took the top spot, however.
Heim led the Green and White in the night's ninth event, the 100 Free. She finished third with a 52.04 against a very strong Buckeye duo of Megan Detro and Sam Cheverton. OSU also took the top two spots in the 200 Back. Bocharnikova led the `Cats in fourth at 2:06.10.
Chomicz swam well in the 200 Breast, coming in second at 2:24.05 to help Ohio get five points on the event. The Buckeyes still held a sizeable advantage, however. The next event, the 500 Free, was controlled by OSU as it extended its lead more. Huber was the top finisher for the Green and White, coming in fifth at 5:06.11.
After Heim's first-place showing in the 100 Fly helped give Ohio a 10-9 edge in points, Hamilton and Alvarez squared off again on the 3-Meter boards. Just one meet removed from her school-best mark in the event, Hamilton turned in another strong showing with a 289.88. Alvarez again took the top spot, however.
The 400 Individual Medley saw the Buckeyes take the top four spots, with Chomicz turning in the `Cats' top finish in fifth at 4:33.69. The Green and White rallied back and ended the meet on a strong note, however, with the 200 Freestyle Relay team of Donovan, Brooks, Lauren Funk (Springfield, Ohio) and Abby Corcoran (Tucson, Ariz.) taking first in a time of 1:34.46, the best time in the Mid-American Conference thus far.
"We had four great splits there," Werner said. "A wise coach once told me `if you can't win the meet,' try to win the last event.' That was some good compensation."
Ohio will now have some time off for finals and the Thanksgiving holiday before jumping back into the pool at the Akron Invitational Dec. 3-5.
