Men’s Swimming & Diving topples Oberlin, falls to Kenyon in tri-meet

By Bud Denega 

ADA — The Ohio Northern men's swimming and diving team couldn't have scripted a better way to come back from winter break. After more than a month layoff, the Polar Bears won their very first race Friday during a home tri-meet featuring Kenyon and Oberlin.

ONU's 200-yard medley relay team — of senior Ryan Groehl (Marysville), sophomores Jeremy Adams (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ann Arbor Pioneer) and Jackson Stanley (Beavercreek) and junior Zach Ayres (Chillicothe) — clocked in at 1:37.60 to top the field.  

The Polar Bears ended up defeating the Yoemen 169.5-46.5, but fell to Kenyon 143-75. The results pushed Northern's dual record to 3-2 on the season. 

Adams added a first-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 59.34. He capped his day, finishing runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 48.19. 

Junior Dylan Boyd (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) added a pair of victories. He took first in both the 1 and 3-meter diving events, scoring 163 and 149.3 points, respectively. 

ONU had plenty of other top-three placers. 

Sophomore Michael Lewandowski (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) touched second in the 50-meter freestyle, registering a time of 22.51. He also placed third in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.43. 

Junior Patrick Reed (Charleston, W.Va./Washington) placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke, recording a time of 59.77. 

Freshman Calob Cope (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) finished third in the 500-yard freestyle, logging a time of 4:56.65. Sophomore Justin DeLano (Englewood/Northmont) finished third in the 100-yard butterfly after registering a time of 53.36, and fellow sophomore Chris Walton (Greenfield, Ind./Eastern Hancock) took third in the 1000-meter freestyle, recording a time of 10:51.35. 

ONU closes out its 2019-20 home slate Saturday at 1 p.m. against Mount Union.