Ball State
Ohio Swimming & Diving Bests Ball State
1/25/2020 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
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ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio swimming & diving team (1-5, 1-3 MAC) returned to the Ohio University Aquatic Center for the first time since November and came away with a victory in front of the home crowd, besting Ball State (5-3, 1-3 MAC), 188.5-110.5, in a Mid-American Conference dual meet this afternoon.
The Bobcats tallied 13 first-place finishes to knock off the Cardinals, with freshman Emma Fortman (Madeira, Ohio), junior Katherine Garrity (Eagan, Minn.), junior Samantha Glass (Villa Hills, Ky.) and freshman Madeline Marks (Bentonville, Ark.) each accounting for two individual wins apiece.
"They did a great job. One of the biggest things, I think, was just the confidence coming back home and swimming here on our campus," said second-year head coach Mason Norman. "A lot of our freshmen really stepped up and had a little bit more confidence than last week. Really a team win across the board. People stepping up and doing some events that they don't normally do. Madeline Marks winning the thousand, that's an event she's only done twice since she's been here. Emma Fortman is really emerging as a player in the conference."
Ohio bookended the meet with a pair of relays that saw the Bobcats claim both first and third in each.
The Bobcats got an early lead over Ball State by taking first and third in the day's first event, the 200-yard medley relay. The 'A' Team consisting of Fortman, senior Emilia Lahtinen (Ylojarvi, Finland), freshman Maya Conte (Brecksville, Ohio) and freshman McKenzie Grau (Mason, Ohio) finished the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:46.47 to win, while sophomore Athena Aravantinou (North Bethesda, Md.), junior Katelyn O'Brien (Williams Bay, Wis.), freshman Grace Riddle (Canal Winchester, Ohio) and junior Carolyn Bischoff (New Hudson, Mich.) finished in 1:48.19 to place third.
Ohio finished strong in the final event of the afternoon, the 400-yard freestyle relay. The 'A' team of Fortman, Grau, Riddle, and Garrity clocked in at 3:33.96 to claim first while the 'B' team of Bischoff, Lahtinen, Aravantinou, and Marks finished in 3:33.96 to take third.
Marks started the meet out strong for Ohio by taking first place in the first individual swimming event. With a time of 10:32.14 in the 1000-yard freestyle, Marks helped the Bobcats keep their early lead. Marks kept that momentum going in the 200-yard butterfly, clocking a 2:05.41 to place first again. Marks also had a second-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle (5:11.01).
Garrity secured herself a pair of first-place wins in the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle. Recording a time of 1:54.28 in the 200-yard freestyle and a 5:05.10 for the 500-yard freestyle, the junior aided Ohio in dominating Ball State. Garrity finished as the runner-up in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:29.25.
Fortman also finished the meet with a pair of individual wins. The freshman's first victory came during the 100-yard backstroke (57.57) followed by her second win of the day in the 500-yard freestyle (2:03.43). Fortman was the first leg of both winning relay teams that played a crucial role in the Bobcats' win.
"We haven't swam here since November, so it was really nice to be back and have all of our parents be able to come," said Fortman. "It's really great to have all the excitement and cheering."
Glass helped the Bobcats by achieving two first-place finishes and a second-place finish. The junior's first win of the day came during the 100-yard butterfly, recording a time of 58.97. She also won the 400-yard individual medley, finishing in 4:29.22. Glass placed second in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:05.77, just milliseconds behind her opponent.
Grau finished first in the 50-yard freestyle and tied for first in the 100-yard freestyle. She clocked a 24.02 in the 50-yard freestyle and came in at 52.58 to tie in the 100-yard freestyle. The freshman was also a part of both winning relay teams.
Lahtinen had first and second place finishes. She finished a second shy of the event winner in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.34). Determined, Lahtinen came back in the 200-yard breaststroke and secured herself a victory by clocking a 2:20.72. She was the second leg in both of the winning relay teams.
In addition to their efforts in the relays, Aravantinou, O'Brien, Riddle, and Bischoff aided Ohio by placing in their individual events as well. Aravantinou placed second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:06.91). Riddle clocked in at 1:55.76, placing her in third for the 200-yard freestyle. O'Brien finished in third place in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:25.69. Bischoff secured herself a second-place spot in the 50-yard freestyle (24.53) and finished in third in the 100-yard freestyle (54.40)
Sophomore Taylor Miller (Latrobe, Pa.) finished in first in the 1-meter diving event and second in the 3-meter dive. With a final score of 253.57, Miller easily took home a win for the Bobcats on 1-meter. She finished the 3-meter dive with a 249.37, only a few points away from first. Freshman Halli Siwik (Fishers, Ind.) finished behind Miller in the 3-meter dive with a score of 237.37 to take third.
After battling Ball State, Ohio will play host to regional rival Marshall next Friday (Jan. 31) in its Senior Night dual meet. Action is scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. ET at the Ohio University Aquatic Center.
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