Ohio State’s Gunenc Earns All-America Honors at NCAA Meet – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swim & Dive
March 18, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gulsah Gunenc became the first Ohio State women’s swimming All-American since 1995 on the final day of the 2006 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships Saturday. She broke her own Ohio State record and guided the Buckeyes to a 32nd-place finish with 12 points.
Gunenc, a junior from Edirne, Turkey (Edirne Anatolian), made the first trip to an NCAA final for the women’s swimming team since 1995 when she finished eighth during preliminary competition of the 200-yard butterfly. Her qualifying time of 1:57.78 broke her own Ohio State record of 1:58.54, recorded at the 2006 Big Ten Championships in February. During the finals competition she moved up to seventh place with a time of 1:59.51. The finish earns her All-American honors. Jocelyn Jay and Katie Hedman were the last OSU women’s swimming All-Americans, earning the award during the 1995 season.
Griet Buelens (So., Kapelle, Belgium/Ursulinen Mechelen) competed in the event with Gunenc. She hit the wall in a time of 2:00.76 for a 24th-place finish. Ohio State finished the meet No. 32 and recorded 12 points, two more then was recorded at last season’s NCAA meet.
“It was a really exciting meet,” Jeanne Fleck, Ohio State head coach, said. “It was fun to have the girls here. Gulsah really put us on the map and we were 32nd out of the entire country, so it was awesome. It was great to have a school record and have Gulsah earn All-American. I’m proud of all the girls. They worked really hard this year and have been leaders all season. We had a great year and this is a great way to end it.”
Friday Results 200-yard butterfly 1. Mary Descenza (Georgia) 1:53.78 7. Gulsah Gunenc (OSU) 1:59.51 24.Griet Buelens (OSU) 2:00.76
