Women's Swimming and Diving wins 184-77 over Wilmington as Kierra Watson leads the way with three victories

By Scott Beaton

ADA — Senior Kierra Watson (Brownsburg, Ind.) won three events to lead the Ohio Northern women's swimming and diving to a 184-77 triumph over Wilmington at the ONU Sports Center Natatorium on Friday evening.

Watson won in the 200-yard freestyle in 2:05.69, the 100 breast in 1:12.84 and was part of ONU's winning 200 yard free relay.

Freshman Megan Lubinski (Milford/Brighton) also won three events, earning wins in the 200 yard medley relay, 50 yard back, and 200 yard free relay.

First-year head coach Austin Veltman earned his first victory at the helm of the program.

The Polar Bears started off the meet strong as a team of Lubinski, sophomore Marisa Barton (Saint Charles, Mo./Duchesne), junior Kyley Stuart (Ada), and senior Lauren Halle (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) won the 200 medley relay in 1:58.61.

Sophomore Marissa Taylor (Granite Falls, N.C./South Caldwell) continued the Polar Bear success, cruising to a victory in the 1000 free, touching in 11:15.00.

In the 50 back, Lubinski was a winner again, finishing the race in :29.04 as the ONU lead was extended to 53-21.

Northern took the top three places in the 50 breast with freshman Lauren Shaw (Port Clinton) touching first in :34.46.

Junior Katey Stuart (Ada) claimed the 100 fly, completing the race in 1:06.23.

Sophomore Avery Manbeck (Aldie, Va./Champe) won the 50 free in :26.95. The Polar Bears led 99-31 following the event.

Halle won the 100 free, touching in :58.48 for her second total victory of the meet.

Sophomore Kaity Kelly (Fremont/Ross) cruised in the 50 fly, touching first in :29.29.

The last event of the night resulted in four repeat winners as the 200 free relay team of Watson, Shaw, Kelly, and Lubinski won the relay in 1:44.25. Both Watson and Lubinski took part in their third triumphs of the evening.

In all, the 184-77 Polar Bear victory included seven different individual winners and six multiple event winners as a team. Northern won 11 of the 14 events. 

Ohio Northern will return to the pool Saturday afternoon as it travels to University Heights to face John Carroll at the Johnson Natatorium at 1 p.m.