Women's Swimming & Diving

In the Pool – Akron's Grace Nuhfer Breaks the S13 100 Fly Record

Recaps courtesy of Athletic Communications Departments
 
Ohio - Five Ohio Swim Members Wrap Up 2024 Toyota US Open
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Five members of the Ohio swim team traveled to Greensboro, N.C. Dec. 4-7 to compete in the 2024 Toyota US Open. Sophomore Zita Szoke, juniors Casadie DiBetta and Emily Ellsworth, and seniors Julia Strine and Edie Sawyer all put forth impressive times over the weekend. 
 
On Thursday, Szoke (Hodmezovasarhely, Hungary) opened competition in the 50-yard freestyle, qualifying for the 'A' final with a time of 22.87. She then returned to the pool later in the evening for the finals, placing sixth overall in the event, touching in with a time of 22.58. 
 
On Friday, Szoke was back in the pool for the 200-yard freestyle, once again qualifying for the 'A' finals in the event after finishing her heat with a time of 1:46.73. She returned to the pool in the evening, finishing fifth in the event with a time of 1:46.26. 
 
In the 100-yard breaststroke heads, DiBetta (St. Clairsville, Ohio) qualified third with a time of 1:00.99, while Strine (Shippensburg, Pa.) qualified for the 'B' final with a time of 1:01.99. Ellsworth (Westerville, Ohio) finished 26th with a time of 1:03.14, while Sawyer (Cranberry Township, Pa.) finished 28th with a time of 1:03.36. 
 
Later in the evening, DiBetta returned for the 'A' final, placing third overall with a time of 1:00.60, while Strine finished the 'B' final in third – 11th overall, with a time of 1:01.93. 
 
On Saturday, Szoke was back in action for the 100-yard freestyle, qualifying third with a time of 48.85. Later in the evening, Szoke returned to the pool for the 'A' final, placing third overall with a time of 48.59. 
 
In the 200-yard breaststroke, DiBetta qualified for the 'A' final with a time of 2:13.39, while Ellsworth qualified for the 'B' final with a time of 2:16.68, followed by Strine with a time of 2:17.05, while Sawyer finished the qualifying heats with a time of 2:18.89. 
 
In the 'B' final, Ellsworth placed first – ninth overall – finishing with a time of 2:14.58, while Strine placed sixth, 14th overall, finishing the race in 2:16.66. In the 'C' final, Sawyer placed fourth – 20th overall – touching in with a time of 2:18.70. 
 
Up next, the Bobcats will go into winter break with the UB Diving Invite, Jan. 9-11in Buffalo, N.Y.
 
Eastern Michigan - Swim Sets 24 Personal-Bests; Finished Fourth at Three-Day Denison Invitational
GRANVILLE, Ohio – The Eastern Michigan University swim team tabbed 24 personal bests as it finished fourth (1,088.5 points) for the second consecutive season at the three-day Denison Invitational, hosted by Denison University at the Trumbull Aquatic Center from Dec. 5-7.
 
Emory University won the meet, scoring 1,979 points. Denison placed second, scoring 1,645.5, while the University of Indianapolis placed third (1,478), the Eagles in fourth, and Washington University-St. Louis in fifth (1,031).
 
Azra Umut led the Eagles in the 200-yard backstroke finals. She placed third in a personal-best 2:01.95, a time that stands just .03 seconds away from tying for the 10th-fastest in program history. Eastern Michigan had two others score in the race. Kiersten Russell  placed sixth in 2:03.13. Siporah Sang  placed 19th in 2:05.84, as the Eagles scored 67 points.
 
Abby Szadorski  blazed the trail for the Green & White in the 200-yard breaststroke finals, finishing eighth in 2:20.12. Tristen Mina and Riess Estep  scored in the B final, placing 12th in 2:22.27 and 14th in 2:23.37, respectively. Hofmeister and Madelyn Sursi  also notched points as the flock of Eagles combined for 67 points.
 
The Eagles came away with 56 points in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The B team, consisting of Lucy Noble, Nehir Oz , Mina and Umut finished ninth in 3:30.27.
 
Emma Littrell  placed third in the 100-yard freestyle finals, tying a personal best in 51.28. Joining her with points in the race was Marlee Christie and Sophie Gatrall. All in all, Eastern secured 55 points.
 
The 1650-yard freestyle saw Eastern earn 45 points as Morgan Hofmeister led EMU with a seventh-place finish in 17:29.12. She was followed by Ashley George, who placed 11th in 18:00.19.

Team Standings (final standings)
1. Emory University – 1,979 Points
2. Denison University – 1,645.5 Points
3. University of Indianapolis – 1,478 Points
4. Eastern Michigan – 1,088.5 Points
5. Washington University-St. Louis – 1,031 Points
 
Buffalo. - Bulls Have Big Day Three At Zippy Invite As Naccarella Breaks School Record
AKRON, OH – The University at Buffalo swimming and diving program competed on day three of the four-day Zippy Invite on Saturday, having a top-five finisher in all six of the individual events.

IN THE POOL
Mia Naccarella headlined the day for the Bulls, breaking her school record in the 100-yard backstroke. The graduate student's time of 52.43 in the finals round surpassed her school record set last year at the MAC Championships of 52.74, putting Naccarella in second place. The graduate student finished first in the preliminary round with a time of 53.12.

Four more Bulls competed in the finals for the 100-yard backstroke. Vivian Roy finished seventh with a time of 55.35, Abbey Malmstrom took 11th (57.76), and Maddy Schnelzer placed 12th with a personal-best time (57.82). Karen Austin finished the event with a new personal record of 1:01.66 to take 23rd.

Freshman Isabella Forsman joined the all-time ranks in an event for the second day in a row. Forsman won the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:20.30, more than three seconds faster than her preliminary round time of 4:23.81, to take the seventh spot on the Bulls' all-time leaderboards for the event. The freshman took the seventh spot in program history on Friday night in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:01.71. Elise McCaul was notable for the Bulls in the 400-yard individual medley, too, taking seventh place in the finals with a new personal record time of 4:27.93. McCaul finished fourth of 22 swimmers in the preliminary round to join Forsman in the finals with a time of 4:28.00.

Grace Rider moved up the all-time leaderboard for the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.30 in the event finals to place fourth. Rider's time broke her previous record of 1:03.05 set at last year's MAC Championships. Rider finished fourth in the preliminary round earlier on Saturday morning with a time of 1:03.52. Ava Pauly joined Rider in the record books, finishing 10th with a personal record time of 1:03.41. Pauly's time ranks 10th all-time in program history for the event. Pauly qualified for the B-finals earlier in the day with a time of 1:04.62.

Nicole Aguilar earned a fifth-place finish for the Bulls in the 100-yard butterfly finals with a time of 54.54. The junior's time was a season-best, less than a second shy of her record time that ranks fourth in program history (53.60). Schnelzer competed in the 100-butterfly finals, too, taking 15th with a time of 56.35, another new personal best time for the freshman. Amanda Neeb (22nd, 57.56) set a season-best time in the finals. Aurelie Walker set a season-best in the morning preliminary round (58.59).

Sawyer Bosley finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle finals with a season-best time of 1:50.12, and Abbey Gardner took sixth with a season-best time of 1:50.32 to put two Bulls inside the top six finishers. Jillian Strine placed 15th (1:53.18), Abigail Malmstrom took 16th (1:54.00), and Ava Cunningham finished 18th (1:53.22) to put five Bulls inside the top 20 swimmers. Strine's time was a new personal record, with Cunningham recording a season-best time. Alicia Wood (27th, 1:55.37) and Amanda Jurgelon (32nd, 1:57.89) also competed in the 200-yard freestyle finals. Wood's time was a season-best.  

The Bulls closed out day three with a third-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:32.20.

THE DIVING WELL
Marialis Kwak won the three-meter diving competition with a season-best final score of 304.95. Kwak has now won all eight individual diving competitions that she's competed in this season.

Sophie Meuwissen took fifth in the three-meter diving finals with a score of 251.50. Mallory Hanna finished eighth with a score of 209.60 to put three Bulls inside the top eight finishers.

Kwak earned first place in the preliminary round of three-meter diving with a score of 304.70. Hanna (3rd, 278.95) and Meuwissen (4th, 275.35) also posted top-five finishes in the preliminary round.
 
Akron - Grace Nuhfer Breaks the S13 100 Fly Record - Zips Stay in First After Day Three of the Zippy Invitational
AKRON, Ohio - Grace Nuhfer broke her S13 100-yard fly record as the Akron Swimming and Diving team stayed in first place after the third day of the Zippy Invitational.

Already holding the record in the S13 100 fly with a time of 56.85, Nuhfer broke her record after swimming 56.65 on Saturday.

Akron finished the third day of the Zippy Invitational in first with 1 479 points, while Buffalo was second with 1,166 points, and Cornell finished third with 1077 points.

The Zips started the day by taking three of the top times in the 100-yard fly prelims. Hannah Trainer paced the Zips with a second-place finish and a time of 54.86. Addy Soehnlen (55.16) and Callie Parkes (55.38) finished third and fourth. Six Zips advanced to the finals in the 100 fly.

Kendall Craig led the Zips in the 400-yard IM prelims with a sixth-place finish and a time of 4:29.64. Three Zips qualified for the finals.

Elle Couture swam the fastest time in the 200-yard free prelims with a time of 1:49.92, while Dominika Kossakowska finished fourth with a time of 1:50.80, and Helena Lalkovic placed fifth with a time of 1:50.97. Six Zips in total advanced to the finals.

The Blue and Gold claimed two of the top five times in the 100-yard breaststroke prelims as Claire Cox led the Zips with a second-place finish and a time of 1:01.83. Madelyn Bosler placed third with a time of 1:01.99. Five Zips in total qualified for the finals.

Akron claimed four of the top five times in the 100-yard backstroke prelims, with Madelyn Gatrall leading the way with a second-place finish and a time of 54.74. Rebecca Reid placed third with a time of 55.11, and Julia Mauter finished fourth with a time of 55.25.

Sophia Stamm and Paige Bush qualified for the 3-meter diving finals after scoring 246.85 and 241.60 in the prelims.

The Zips started the finals session with a win in the 100-yard fly. Abigail Daniel recorded an NCAA B cut time of 51.98 to win the event, while Trainer finished third with a time of 54.48, and Parkes took fourth with a time of 54.50.  

Maggie Patterson paced the Zips in the 400-yard IM with a time of 4:27.24 to finish sixth.

Akron claimed the top three spots in the 200-yard free final as Kossakowska (1:47.96) took first, Couture (1:48.91) took second, and Lalkovic (1:49.18) finished third.

The Zips swam two of the three fastest times in the 100-yard breaststroke as Cox finished second with an NCAA B cut time of 1:06.65 and Bosler finished third with a time of 1:01.89.

The Blue and Gold took Gold and Bronze in the 100-yard backstroke, with Gatrall posting an NCAA B cut time of 52.01 to claim first and Reid finishing third with a time of 53.89.

In the 3-meter diving finals, Stamm finished sixth with a score of 240.45, and Bush finished seventh with a score of 237.30.

Akron concluded the night by posting the top two times in the 200-yard free relay. The "Z" squad of Ada Szwabinska (22.97), Daniel (22.30), Gatrall (22.54) and Trainer (22.54) finished first with a time of 1:30.11 while the "I" squad of Parkes (23.09), Kossakowska (22.96), Brienne Trumpower (22.79) and Reid (22.77) finished second with a time of 1:31.61

The final day of the Zippy Invitational gets going at 9 a.m. on Sunday, December 8, at the Ocasek Natatorium.
 
Miami - RedHawks Sweep Miami Invitational
OXFORD, Ohio — The Miami University swimming and diving team finished strong on day three of the Miami University Invitational at Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center on Dec. 7, 2024. The women's team finished in first place, scoring 1171 points. Other placements for the women's teams were Indiana State University (981.5) in second and Dartmouth College (651) in third.
 
The Women's swim team will travel up to Toledo to compete against the University of Toledo Rockets on Jan. 11, 2025.
 
Ball State - Women’s S&D Closes Miami Invite with Two More Event Wins
OXFORD, Ohio - - Junior Payton Kelly picked up her third event win of the weekend, while sophomore Alexa Von Holtz earned her first as the Ball State women's swimming & diving program closed competition at the Miami Invitational Saturday.
 
Kelly completed her sweep of the freestyle sprint events, falling 0.03 shy of her program record with a first-place time of 49.06 in the 100 freestyle. She won the 50 freestyle Thursday, and the 200 freestyle Friday and now has 10 total individual event wins this season.
 
Von Holtz's win came in the 200 butterfly when she clocked in at 1:59.70. It was her third 200 butterfly victory and sixth overall individual victory of the season.
 
Freshman Olivia Owens opened Saturday's finals session with the fourth-fastest individual 200 backstroke in program history, posting a final wall touch of 2:00.06 to place fourth overall in the race. Junior Alyssa Messenger added the fifth-fastest mark in the event in the prelims at 2:01.19.
 
The Cardinals also received a strong showing from freshman McKenna Potteiger in the 1650 freestyle, as she posted the eighth-best time in program history at 17:03.20 to place fifth overall. Her 1000 split of 10:17.41 was also the sixth-fastest on BSU's all-time list.
 
Ball State rounded out the meet with the fourth-best 400 freestyle relay in program history as freshman Anna Keen, junior Haley Sakbun, Von Holtz, and Kelly clocked in at 3:23.29. In addition, Keen's leadoff 100 freestyle split of 50.10 was the fourth-fastest effort on BSU's top 10 list.
 
Overall, the Cardinals turned in nine individual top 10 finals finishes Saturday at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center, raising its meet total to 24.
 
With the effort, Ball State placed fourth among the four-team field with 632.5 points. Host Miami won the meet at 1171, followed by Indiana State (981.5) and Dartmouth (651).
 
The Ball State women's swimming & diving program returns to action after the holiday break when it joins the men's squad to host Evansville for senior day on Jan. 11. The meet is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at the Lewellen Aquatic Center.