Season Review: Women's Swimming & Diving posts 15th consecutive upper division OAC finish in 2016-17

By Tim Glon

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's swimming & diving team posted its 15th consecutive upper division finish at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships meet in 2-16-17 under 13th-year head coach Peggy Ewald.

The Polar Bears finished third of seven teams with 569.5 points in the 20 events.

Ohio Northern finished 4-4 overall and were 2-2 in the OAC during the regular season.

Freshman Lauren Halle (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) won the OAC title in the 200 fly in 2:09.17. She also set a school record, achieved an NCAA "B" Cut and earned All-OAC honors in the 400 I.M. by finishing second in 4:36.57.

The top three finishers in each individual event at the OAC Championships and the top two relay teams earn All-Conference honors.

Junior Sydney Veon (Riverside, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) earned All-Conference honors in a team-best five events.

Individually, she was second in the 50 free in :24.35 and the 100 free in :53.21 and was third in the 100 breast in 1:06.28.

She was also on ONU's second place 200 free and 200 medley relay teams.

Sophomore Kierra Watson (Brownsburg, Ind.) earned All-Conference accolades in four events.

She had second place finishes in the 100 back (:58.98), the 200 back (2:09.54) and in the 200 I.M. (2:13.16) and was on the Polar Bears' 200 medley relay squad.

Senior Molly Wheeler (Sylvania/Northview) was also on both relay teams.

The 200 free relay team of Veon, Melody, Wheeler and senior Stephanie Brookens (Louisville) were second in 1:39.00.

Watson, Wheeler, freshman Kyley Stuart (Ada) and Veon were second in the 200 medley relay in 1:48.00.

Brookens also earned All-Conference accolades in the 100 free, finishing second in :54.03.

Freshman Libby Sartschev (Parma/Normandy) finished second in the 3-meter diving with 308.65 points to earn All-Conference honors.

Seven members of the Ohio Northern women's swimming and diving team were named Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference for 2016-17.

Seniors Kelsey Brebberman (Maumee), Melody and Wheeler, juniors Maggie Dempster (Akron/Firestone), Kasey Mucher (Arlington, Tex./Oakridge) and Hailee Sautter (Mansfield/Lexington) and sophomore Kierra Watson (Brownsburg, Ind.) all received the honor.

"We began the journey of the season knowing it was a different day in the OAC," ONU head coach Peggy Ewald said. "We had some great moments and a few surprises. But the 'wins' are not always shown in the score. We have won in more ways than can be count and deduced to numbers. We have reset the mission of this team and the foundation that built the traditions of excellence. The future is promising.

"The women's overall performances exceed expectations. They moved the score closer by staying focused, relaxed and swimming up to their potential. We have returned to the core values that took the team to the top. It's exciting to look into the future."