Breaststrokers lead the way for Men’s Swimming & Diving during Day 2 of the OAC Championships
By Bud Denega
AKRON — If the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships' 100-yard breaststroke were a painting, it be dominated by Ohio Northern orange and black. Sophomore Jeremy Adams (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ann Arbor Pioneer) placed runner-up in the race, earning All-OAC, with a time of 55.77. And Adams wasn't alone, as three of his teammates joined him on the podium.
The breaststrokers helped the Polar Bears solidify their hold on third in the team standings. ONU owns 362 points, while John Carroll and Mount Union remain first and second with 630 and 527 points, respectively.
Freshman Ian Kogucki (Kingwood, Tex./Kingwood) touched sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke, recording a time of 58.11. Freshman Dillon Brady (Cleveland/St. Edward) took seventh in a time of 58.52, and junior Patrick Reed (Charleston, W.Va./Washington) placed eighth with a time of 1:02.91.
Freshman Calob Cope (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) got things started for the Polar Bears Friday night inside Ocasek Natatorium with an All-OAC performance of his own. He took third in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:09.46.
The Polar Bears had a pair of representatives in the top eight of the 100-yard butterfly. Sophomore Jackson Stanley (Beavercreek) placed fourth, logging a time of 50.61, while fellow sophomore Justin DeLano (Englewood/Northmont) touched sixth with a time of 51.01.
DeLano also placed fifth in the 100-yard backstroke, clocking in at 52.14.
Junior 1-meter diver Dylan Boyd (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) rounded out the individual podium placers, taking sixth with 295.35 points.
The 800-yard freestyle relay team — comprised of Adams, Cope, freshman Logan Randall (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) and DeLano — recorded a time of 7:00.00 to place third.
The meet will conclude Saturday with preliminary events beginning at 10 a.m. and finals starting at 5:45 p.m. Events being competed include the 1,650-yard freestyle, the 200-yard backstroke, the 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard breaststroke, the 200-yard butterfly, diving and the 400-yard freestyle relay.
