Junior Sydney Veon and freshman Lauren Halle lead Women's Swimming and Diving in victory over Wilmington

By Caleb Scott

ADA — Junior Sydney Veon Riverside, Ill./Brookfield) posted four first place finishes in as many events, while freshman Lauren Halle (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) posted four first places finishes in five events as the Ohio Northern women's swimming and diving teams defeated Wilmington 215-67.

The Polar Bears improve to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Quakers fall to 0-2, 0-2.

Veon teamed up with sophomore Kierra Watson (Brownsburg, Ind.), senior Molly Wheeler (Sylvania/Northview) and senior Stephanie Brookens (Louisville) to take first place in the 200 medley relay in 1:55.81.

Veon was also a member of the 200 free relay team that took first as she competed with junior Hailee Sautter (Mansfield/Lexington), freshman Kylelyn Stuart (Ada), and Halle and won the race in 1:46.55.

Veon finished the night off with first places finishes in the 50 free (:25.63) and the 100 breast (1:10.19) to complete her perfect 4-for-4 evening of first place finishes.

Halle also finished first in the 100 fly in 1:01.69, the 500 free in 5:33.65, and the 100 IM in 1:04.78.

In the diving portion of the meet, freshman Elizabeth Sartschev (Parma/Normandy) finished first in both the 1-meter diving and 3-meter diving events with 160.65 and 175.12 points, respectively.

Freshman Samantha Nelson (Washington Court House/Washington) took second place in the 1-meter diving with 124.87 points.

"We were excited to open our OAC season against the Quakers. It's a great environment when you can race against a team who matches up with good character," said head coachPeggy Ewald. "We got to see where our freshman will grow and where we need to continue work. The meet event list was a fun competitive meet to kick off our dual season. All meets are tests to what you are doing daily in practice. This test demonstrated great execution of the changes we are asking of the athletes. We will need to continue pushing out the comfort zone. In doing so, the team will grow."

Brookens would take first place in the 100 free in :58.17, and finished second in the 200 free in 2:09.42.

Sautter also added a first place finish for the Polar Bears as she won the 200 free in 2:06.55.

Sautter also finished second in the 500 free in 5:47.49.

In the 100 back, Watson took first place in 1:03.96.

Watson also finished second in the 100 fly in 1:05.06 and in the 100 IM in 1:06.22.

The Polar Bears would finish 1-2 in the 50 breast as Wheeler took first in :33.42, and freshman Katelyn Stuart (Ada) took second in :33.80.

Wheeler finished her night with a first placed finish in the 100 breast, finishing in 1:13.34.

Kylelyn Stuart (Ada) also posted a first place finish for Northern as she won the 50 fly in :28.85.

Northern will return to action Saturday morning as they travel to John Carroll to take on the Blue Streaks at 11 am.