Nolan Huey, Braden Kuhn set school records on final day of the 2018 OAC Men's Swimming & Diving Championships

February 17, 2018

By Tim Glon

AKRON — Sophomore Nolan Huey (Fort Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge) and senior Braden Kuhn (Tiffin/Columbian) each set school records to lead the Ohio Northern men on the third and final day of the 2018 Ohio Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships on Saturday at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.

Huey set his fourth ONU record and his third OAC record of the championships with a 1:49.93 victory in the 200 back. Earlier in the day, he set the ONU record with a 1:51.25 time in the 200 back prelims. His 1:49.93 is also an NCAA "B" Cut.

Kuhn earned All-OAC honors with a school-record 493.00 points in the 3-meter diving. His effort was also an NCAA "B" Cut. Kuhn won the event in 2016 with 391.45 points, but the winning effort in 2018 was an Ocasek Natatorium record 602.55 points by John Carroll's Ryan McClelland.

The Polar Bears finished in second place out of five teams with 823.5 points in the 20 events by a scant three points.

Huey was named the OAC Swimmer of the Year for his efforts and the Ohio Northern coaching staff, led by 14th-year head coach Peggy Ewald, was named the OAC Men's Coaching Staff of the Year.

Junior Pete He (Mason) completed his sweep of the butterfly events as he won the 200 fly in 1:54.54.

The 400 free relay team of Huey, junior Justin Chapman (Springboro), He and senior Ian Simpson (Strongsville) won the 400 free relay in 3:05.30 to claim the sixth consecutive OAC crown in the event for the Polar Bears.

Simpson also earned All-Conference accolades in the 100 free, finishing second in :46.56, and junior Anthony Ferrell (Canton/Glen Oak) earned All-Conference honors in the 200 breast, finishing second in 2:06.16.

ONU placed three others in the top six in the event, as freshman Patrick Reed (Charlestown, W.Va./Washington) was fourth in 2:08.68, senior Conor Cassara (Westhampton, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) was fifth in 2:09.69 and senior Thomas Golba (Dayton/Alter) was sixth in 2:11.19.

Freshman Ryan Mow (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) started the evening with a second place finish in the 1650 free in 16:26.95, earning All-OAC kudos.

The Polar Bears made a late charge in the final two events, out-scoring John Carroll 86-54, but could not overcome a 35-point deficit and fell in the closest team race since 1996 by an 826.5-823.5 count.

Mount Union was third with 696 points, Baldwin Wallace was fourth with 319 points and Wilmington was fifth with 312 points.

The top three finishers in each individual event and the top two relay teams earn All-Conference honors.

Team Standings After Day 3

1. John Carroll 826.5, 2. Ohio Northern 823.5, 3. Mount Union 696, 4. Baldwin Wallace 319, 4. Wilmington 312.