Final Results | Championship Central
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Akron Zips are the 2022 Mid-American Conference Swimming and Diving Champions, earning the programs eighth title in nine years on Saturday evening at Bowling Green's Cooper Pool.
Akron won 12-of-19 events with seven silver and eight bronze, claiming 27 medals total en route to 896.5 points. The Zips claimed the title by a 277-point margin over runner-up Buffalo (619.5). The 896.5 total points stands as the most points scored in an eight-team field, eclipsing the previous record of 867 points set by the 2019 Akron squad.
The Zips entered the final day of competition with a 173-point advantage over the field and didn't slow down as Akron claimed first place honors in all six swimming events with five pool records.
Junior Gail Workman captured the Zips' first gold medal of the evening with a 16:42.05 time in the 1650-yard freestyle.
Akron proceeded to claim the first and third positions of the 200-yard butterfly as senior Paulina Nogaj touched first with a pool record 1:58.24 time, and freshman Abigail Daniel (1:59.17) earned bronze with a pair of NCAA B-Cut times.
Akron swept the top four spots in the 200-yard breaststroke, with a pool-record performance by senior Andrea Fischer for the gold medal with a 2:10.68 time. Senior Paula Garcia followed (2:11.59) for the silver, sophomore Madeline Dyer (2:12.29) touched third and junior Sara Bozso claimed fourth (2:14.46 – the top three places were NCAA B standards.
After being named MAC Most Outstanding Senior, a career award, Sarah Watson was the next Zip to top the podium. Watson flew to a pool record time of 48.70 in the 100-yard freestyle relay.
The 200-yard backstroke was the fifth gold medal race by the Zips as junior Weronika Gorecka used a pool record time of 1:53.89 to earn the gold, while sophomore Madelyn Gatrall stopped the timer at 1:55.86 to claimed bronze, both were NCAA B-Cut times.
During a 30-minute break from the swimming action, junior Paige Kalik earned the bronze medal in 3-meter diving with 298.2 total points.
Akron wrapped-up the 2022 MAC Championships with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay as Nogaj (48.97), Rachel Schiffli (49.26), Daniel (49.28) and Sofia Henell (49.03) brought home the gold and completed the sweep of the final day swimming events with a pool record 3:16.54 time.
Team Scores
1. Akron – 896.5
2. Buffalo – 619.5
3. Miami – 429.5
4. Ohio – 367.5
5. Eastern Michigan – 354
6. Bowling Green – 339
7. Ball State – 243.5
8. Toledo – 233.5
MAC Most Outstanding Senior: Sarah Watson, Akron
MAC Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Abby Daniel, Akron
MAC Freshman Diver of the Year: Marialis Kwak, Buffalo
MAC Diver of the Year: Tori Franz, Buffalo
MAC Swimmer of the Year: Paulina Nogaj, Akron
MAC Diving Coach of the Year: Russ Dekker, Buffalo
MAC Swimming Coach of the Year: Brian Peresie, Akron
All-MAC First Team
Nicole Maier, Miami
Sarah Watson, Akron
Paulina Nogaj, Akron
Tori Franz, Buffalo
Sawyer Bosley, Buffalo
Katie Pollock, Buffalo
Daisy Platts, Bowling Green
Gail Workman, Akron
Weronika Gorecka, Akron
Andrea Fischer, Akron
Abby Daniel, Akron
Toni Naccarella, Buffalo
Olivia Gardner, Akron
Riley Hofmann, Eastern Michigan
Jillian Lawton, Buffalo
All-MAC Second Team
Gabrielle Brust, Ohio
Sofia Henell, Akron
Honor Brodie-Foy, Miami
Madelyn Gatrall, Akron
Madeline, Dyer, Akron
Mia Naccarella, Buffalo
Marij van der Mast, Buffalo
Emma Fortman, Ohio
Paula Garcia, Akron
Bethany Berger, Eastern Michigan
Kellie House, Bowling Green
Clarice Fisher, Buffalo
Mckenzie Grau, Ohio
Paige Kalik, Akron
Erin Szczupakiewicz, Miami
