Men's Swimming and Diving looks to claim its 10th consecutive OAC Championships crown this weekend
By Tim Glon
ADA — The Ohio Northern men's swimming & diving team is looking to claim its 10th consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference Championships crown this weekend at the 2014 OAC Championships Thu.-Sat. at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.
The Polar Bears have won nine nine consecutive OAC Championship titles and just clinched their eighth straight OAC Regular Season crown under 10th-year head coach Peggy Ewald.
ONU has eight returning All-Conference swimmers that are expected to compete at the championships, led by senior All-American Jordan Breitigam.
Breitigam was the 2013 OAC Men's Swimmer of the Year and is a 10-time OAC Champion.
He is the two-time defending champ in the 100 and 200 fly events and also won last year's 200 I.M. race.
Senior John Beaschler is a two-time OAC Champion on free relay teams and is a 7-time All-OAC performer in the sprints and relays.
He has the fastest time in the OAC in the 50 free this season.
Senior Erik Arent is a 4-time All-OAC performer in the fly and relay events.
Senior Kyle Rex was named the 2013 OAC Diver of the Year after sweeping the 1- and 3-meter titles last year.
Junior Spencer Franzoi is the two-time defending champion in the 400 I.M. and is a 4-time All-Conference performer in the I.M. and breast events.
Junior Brian Heilbronner won the 100 back title in 2012 and is a 2-time champion and 3-time All-OAC swimmer.
Junior Christopher Hoffman is a 3-time All-OAC honoree in the distance free events.
Junior Jason Luthman was an All-Conference award winner in the 100 and 200 breast races last winter.
Sophomore Sean O'Neill rounds out the list of returning All-OAC performers after finishing third in the 200 back last year.
Sophomore Zack Martin and freshmen Eric Chen, Tim Pelltier, Logan Pfeifer, Jeremy Preston and John Raker are all listed first or second in their respective events among OAC competitors during the regular season.