Koebel, Taylor earn All-OAC as Women’s Swimming & Diving finishes Day 2 of OAC Championship
By Bud Denega
AKRON — This was it for Ohio Northern senior Katelyn Koebel (Port Clinton). The 2020 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships represented the final swim meet of her career.
And she couldn't of drawn up a better ending. Koebel placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 1:08.46, to earn All-OAC honors.
Koebel wasn't alone on the podium, either. Fellow senior Katey Staurt (Ada) joined her, placing sixth in a time of 1:10.19, and junior Marisa Barton (Saint Charles, Mo./Duchesne) took seventh, recording a time of 1:10.96.
Junior Marissa Taylor (Granite Falls, N.C./South Caldwell) added to her already impressive conference showing with yet another All-OAC swim. She took third in the 400-yard individual medley, registering a time of 4:44.64. Freshman Abby Schauer (Beavercreek) wasn't far behind, placing sixth in a time of 4:52.74.
Freshman Shelby Starkey (Bellefontaine) touched fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:00.68.
The 200-yard medley relay team got Friday's finals started with a third-place finish. The relay team of freshman Schauer, Katey Stuart, senior Kyley Stuart (Ada) and sophomore Megan Lubinski (Milford/Brighton) registered a time of 1:52.07.
The Polar Bears remained in fourth in the team standings with 292 points. John Carroll leads the way, tallying 658.5 points, while Mount Union and Baldwin Wallace round out the top three with 389 and 376.5 points, respectively.
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.
