Men's Swimming & Diving grabs commanding lead on Day 2 of the OAC Championships meet
By Tim Glon
AKRON — The Ohio Northern men won six of the eight events and took a commanding lead in the team standings on Day 2 of the Ohio Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships on Friday at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.
The Polar Bears have 658 points through 13 of the championships' 20 events and have won 10 of the 13 titles thus far.
ONU is looking for its ninth consecutive OAC Championships crown.
The Polar Bears have set six OAC records, seven school records, one NCAA "A" Cut and five NCAA "B" Cuts in the first two days of the meet.
Mount Union is second with 477 points, John Carroll is third with 301 points, Wilmington is fourth with 279 points, league newcomer Transylvania (Ky.) is fifth with 156 points and Defiance is sixth with five points.
Junior Jordan Breitigam won his third consecutive Conference title in the 100 fly, setting OAC and ONU records and breaking the NCAA "A" Cut in :49.21, while senior Marc Anderson was runner-up for the second straight year, finishing second in :50.30.
Drew Keriazes won his second straight OAC title and his third in the last four years in the 100 breast, setting an OAC and ONU record and surpassing the NCAA "B" Cut in :56.77.
Sophomore Jason Luthman touched in second place in :59.29, earning him All-OAC honors in the event.
Sophomore Spencer Franzoi won his second consecutive OAC title in the 400 I.M., touching first in 4:12.85.
Freshman Jacob Croasdell also earned All-OAC honors by finishing second in 4:15.96.
Junior Kyle Rex won his first OAC crown in the 3-meter diving, finishing with 390.00 points. It marks the second straight year that Rex was All-Conference in the event.
Junior John Beaschler and sophomore Chris Hoffman each garnered All-Conference accolades in the 200 free.
Beaschler finished second in 1:43.49 and Hoffman was third in 1:44.23.
Northern started the day in impressive fashion, breaking the OAC and ONU records and reaching the NCAA "B" Cut in the 200 medley relay, winning in 1:31.05.
Anderson, Keriazes, Breitigam and junior Christian Garlock won the event. Breitigam's split in the 50 fly of :21.64 is one of the fastest times in the nation this season.
Northern then wrapped up the day by winning the 800 free relay in 6:56.81, edging Mount Union by .38 of a second in closest finish in the history of the event.
Beaschler, Hoffman, Croasdell and Garlock gave ONU its fifth win in the last seven years in the event.
"We had a strong day today," ONU head coach Peggy Ewald said. "We had some amazing swims, with many OAC and school records and NCAA 'A' and 'B' Cuts. Other OAC schools are pushing and competing well also. It is too soon to celebrate, but we are in good position right now.
"I am proud of our we are sticking to our game plans and are swimming our own races, not reacting to what other teams are doing."
The top three individuals and the top two relay teams in each event earn All-OAC kudos.
The third and final day of the OAC Championships will be Saturday with prelims at 11 am and finals at 5:45 pm.
