Buckeyes Meet Kenyon Friday, Cleveland State Tuesday – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swim & Dive
Nov. 16, 2005
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The Ohio State women’s swimming and diving team continues its home stand with two meets in a five-day period. The Buckeyes and Kenyon will meet Friday in the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at 6 p.m. The Scarlet and Gray return to the McCorkle Pavilion the following Tuesday in a dual meet with Cleveland State also at 6 p.m.
THE BUCKEYES DROP TWO
The Buckeyes lost to both Michigan and Purdue Nov. 11 in their home pool. In the double-dual meet Ohio State fell to Purdue, 231-69, and lost to Michigan, 208.50-91.50. Gulsah Gunenc finished second in both the 100- and 200-yard butterfly, clocking in lifetime-best times in both events. Nicole Maglich also recorded a lifetime-best during the meet. Her time came in the 1,000-yard freestyle, which she hit at 9:59.80. Maglich finished third in the event then returned to finish second in the 500-yard freestyle. In the diving well, Anesa Beard combined six dives on the 1-meter event to place second.
Season Best
With three dual meets so far this season, the Buckeyes have begun to set numerous season best times each week. The Scarlet and Gray set 11 total in the double dual with Michigan and Purdue. Nine of the 11 times were individual best times, with the final two coming in the relay events.
Gulsah Gunenc holds the most season best times on the team with four. The junior also recorded the most team best times at the last meet, hitting the mark in three events. Nicole Maglich is second in line with three season best times.
A Look At Kenyon
The Kenyon Ladies will compete in the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion carrying an 0-3 record for the season. The Ladies, coached by Jim Steen, opened their season with a first-place finish at the North Coast Atlantic Conference relay meet. The Ladies three losses came from Ohio (149-145), Denison (123-118) and Louisville (146.5-110.5).
Kenyon breaststroker Jessica Conners has won three individual breaststroke events this season and helped to win three of the five victorious relay teams at the NCAC meet. Junior Rebecca Allison also has been helping the team, winning three individual events over the Ladies’ last two weeks. Allison’s event wins came in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard backstroke.
Last Time vs. The Ladies
Ohio State and Kenyon will meet for the first time since Jan. 18, 2002. During the meet in Columbus, the Buckeyes won 10 of the 11 events to overcome the Ladies 119-86. Both Kylie Lanken and and Stephanie Raezer won two individual events throughout the meet. Lanken claimed the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly, while Raezer’s wins came in the 500-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley.
A Look At Cleveland State
Cleveland State has competed in five dual meets and the Notre Dame Relays meet so far this season. Over the five meets, the Vikings have notched a 2-3 record and placed seventh of the eight teams in South Bend, Ind.
Kirsty McKenhnie and Marianne Lionell have each won multiple events this season. McKenhnie has tallied five wins, with two coming in both the freestyle and breaststroke events and another in the individual medley. Lionell has also won five events for the Vikings. She was named the Horizon League’s Athlete of the Week following a three-event win weekend against Wright State and Xavier.
Last Time vs. The Vikings
Cleveland State and Ohio State will meet for the eighth time overall and the first time since Nov. 25, 2003. The Buckeyes won that meet 147-81 and placed first in every event. Among the winners, Stephanie Raezer won both the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle and Nicole Maglich won the 100-yard freestyle. Julie Broms continued an undefeated streak in the 1-meter board and also claimed the 3-meter event. Ohio State has not lost to Cleveland State in any of the previous seven meetings.
A New Home
Ohio State aquatics opened its new home: the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The building hosts the Mike Peppe Natatorium, a 50-meter world-class competition pool and the Ron O’Brien Diving Well. The new site also contains three additional pools, including practice pools for the team. Spectator seating, team locker rooms and new offices for the aquatic staff all compliment the main attractions. The facility is expected to draw in events on every level.
Home Pool Advantage
The new natatorium already has drawn in two championships for the 2005-06 season. Both the women’s 2006 Big Ten Championships and the 2006 NCAA Diving Regional Qualifying Championships will be held at the new home of Buckeye swimming and diving.
“The women can’t wait,” Jeanne Fleck said. “They’re so excited. The parents are excited. It’s going to be a blast. We swim really well at home, so it will be really exciting.”
The Big Ten championships, held Feb. 15-18, will be the first time the Ohio State women’s team has hosted the event. The diving qualifying championships will be held three weeks later, March 10-12, and will host both male and female divers from all over the region. The qualifying championships are the final step for divers to qualify for the NCAA championships.
Captains
Fleck has selected three swimmers to guide the team as captains. Senior Nicole Maglich, who won numerous events in dual-meets last season and competed at NCAA in three events, is expected to guide the team in the pool. Fellow senior Erin Greene has the honor of being named captain. Greene was voted most improved by the team last season and recorded times that were in the team’s Top 5 times of the season. Rounding out the trio is junior Stephanie Fennell. Fennell clocked the fastest time for the team in the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard individual medley.
Senior Leadership
Nicole Maglich and Erin Greene are joined by Morgan O’Connor and Natalie Bojko in representing the senior class. O’Connor set two personal-best times last season. Bojko also set her own personal-best times last season and was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
“They’re all really good friends which helps them to be good leaders,” Fleck said. “They’ve just done a great job. They have helped build this program with their attitudes and their work ethics.”
The Schedule
The 2005-06 season will have many challenges. With the new pool come six home meets, including two double-dual meets. Four Big Ten opponents will be traveling to Columbus to receive a glimpse of the new surroundings before the conference championships. The team will travel twice during the season, opening the season on the road at Bowling Green and then heading to Minnesota toward the end of January. A preview event for the post-season championships will take place Dec. 2-4, when the Buckeyes host the Ohio State Invitational.
The postseason will begin at home with the Big Ten championships and the Regional Qualifying championships. Those who make the NCAA cut and are selected to attend the national meet will travel to Athens, Ga., March 16-18.
All But One
Ohio State opened the 2005-06 season with a 171-124 win over the Bowling Green Falcons Nov. 3 in Cooper Pool. The Buckeyes won 15 of 16 events, including a double win in the diving well.
Nicole Maglich and Gulsah Gunenc each won three events during the meet. Maglich claimed the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke events while Gunenc claimed her wins in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley.
Three Buckeyes, Griet Buelens, Rebekah Rychvalsky and Anesa Beard, each had double-wins during the meet, with Linda Lund claiming the 15th win in the 50-yard freestyle.
COACH Jeanne Fleck
Head women’s swimming coach Jeanne Fleck is in her seventh season at the helm of the Ohio State women’s swimming program. She has become accustomed to her teams displaying excellence in the water and in the classroom throughout her coaching career. Fleck has geared the Buckeyes to one school record and two pool records while getting her student-athletes to set personal bests almost every week. The Buckeyes had the highest grade point average in the Big Ten conference and was ranked ninth in the country during fall quarter last year. In five seasons, Fleck has had 36 Academic All-Big Ten selections and 73 OSU Scholar-Athletes.
About Coach Panzano
Vince Panzano is in his 27th season as coach of the Ohio State men’s and women’s diving teams. Panzano, who was named the 2004 Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career, has produced one world champion, one junior world champion, two Olympic medalists, 22 U.S. Diving champions, ten NCAA champions, 14 NCAA runners-up, 45 Big Ten champions and 68 NCAA All-Americans.
Up Next
The Buckeyes return to action in the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Dec. 2-4 for the Ohio State Invite.
