Women's Swimming & Diving guns for third consecutive OAC crown

By: Tyler Doran

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's swimming & diving team is looking for its third consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference title when it competes at the 2011 OAC Championships Thu.-Sat. at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.

ONU (9-4 overall, 4-0 OAC) won its fifth consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season title this season with a perfect 4-0 record and have now won 20 consecutive OAC dual meets.

Northern has won the past two and three of the past four OAC Championships titles.

The Polar Bears feature eight OAC Champion on their roster, including 2007 OAC Swimmer of the Year senior  and 2009 OAC Swimmer of the Year junior Michalle Eggers.

Shumate is an 11-time OAC Champion and has won the 07, 08 and 09 OAC crowns in the 400 I.M. and as part of the 400 medley relay.

Eggers is an 8-time OAC Champion and is the two-time defending champion in the 1650 free and on the 800 free relay. She has also won OAC crowns in the 200 free, 500 free and 400 I.M. events and on the 400 free relay team.

Senior Hannah Bukowy is a 10-time OAC Champion, is the defending 100 breast champion and was a member of ONU's three-time defending OAC Champion 200 medley relay squad.

Junior Alison Garbash is a 7-time Conference Champ, winning the 2009 title in the 50 free and as a member of 6 relays.

Junior Sarah Fiffick is a 5-time OAC Champion, winning the 2009 crown in the 100 free and as a member of four telay teams.

Senior Cassie Fennell has won four OAC relay crowns and junior Kaitlyn Early is the defending 500 free champion and has been a part of ONU's 2-time OAC Champion 800 free relay squad.

Sophomore Mackenzie Hoffman was part of ONU's winning 800 free relay team.

Freshman Kasey Manko is the top seed in the 100 and 200 breast and freshman Cait Munro is the top seed in the 100 fly.