Swimming, diving down Tigers
Melanie Waszak placed first in the 100 free. Photo: Steve Woltmann
In their first meet after a three-week break, the Flames showed they had not missed a beat as both squads came out victorious against the Olivet Nazarene Tigers Saturday afternoon at the Flames Natatorium.
The men’s squad finished with a final score of 179-118, and the women’s team finished with a final of 168-115. Because of inclement weather conditions, the Western Illinois Leathernecks couldn’t make the trip to Chicago.
“We talked about racing in mid-season with some of the academic obligations that have happened over the last week or so with finals week, so we went into this week knowing there was going to be some obstacles,” head coach Paul Monaik said. “Now it’s time to get back to work and really get into some difficult training for the second half of the season, because we know that the other teams in the Horizon League are going to be very competitive.”
The men’s squad (3-5, 1-2 Horizon League) dominated from the beginning taking first in 10-of-16 events, beginning with a one-two finish in the 200 medley relay. The quartet of Peter Errichiello, Brayden Amendola, Mike Reed and Vincent Errichiello came in first at 1:34.53. Sebastian Ostrowski, Conor Ozog, Kei Ishimaru and Nick Kowaleski touched second with a time of 1:35.64.
Christian Grobe and Ramiro Almaraz finished first (9:55.84) and second (10.03.50), respectively, in the 1000 freestyle. Almaraz also took first in the 200 backstroke (1:55.92) and Grobe dominated in the 200 breaststroke touching with a final time of 2:07.77.
V. Errichiello was edged in both the 100 and 200 free with second-place times of 47.20 and 1:45.18, respectively. His brother, P. Errichiello, sped through the 100 back clocking in at 51.82.
Junior swimmer John Mordach touched second in the 500 free (4:52.29) and Amendola came in second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.91. Sophomore Ryota Kuwahara dominated the 200 butterfly with a final time of 1:56.58 and junior standout Reed touched first in the 50 free (20.82). Ishimaru took the 100 fly with a time of 50.62.
The Flames diving team showed no weaknesses when freshman Tyler Pastore took first on the 1-meter board with a final score of 283.35, a personal best. Mark Ciesielski also dominated on the 3-meter board achieving a career best score of 297.98.
To close out the meet, the men’s 200 free relay team consisting of Reed, Ishimaru, P. Errichiello and Mordach missed first by .33 seconds with a final time of 1:25.25.
The women’s squad (3-5, 1-2 HL) was best in 10-of-16 events, opening up the meet with the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Anne Jacobsen,Monica Pinkus, Danel Voorhees, and Katherine Hare touched first with a time of 1:49.00, while Erin Sivak, Gisun Pak, Melanie Waszak, and Kelsey Millin finished second (1:50.11).
Sophomore Veronica Gibson finished first in the 1000 free (10:40.30). She also dominated the 200 fly (2:10.49) and came in a close second in the 100 fly (1:01.42).
Waszak touched first in the 100 free (53.76) and second in the 100 back with a time of 59.71. Millin sped through both the 200 free and 100 fly touching with times of 1:45.18 and 1:00.71, respectively.
Junior Gisun Pak took first in the 200 breast finishing with a time of 2:28.15 and grabbed second in the 200 IM (2:17.05). Pinkus and Hare had a one-two finish in the 50 free with times of 24.72 and 25.12, respectively. Pinkus also touched second in the 100 free with a time of 54.09.
Kristi Carling claimed top honors on the three-meter board with a final score of 216.38.
In the last women’s event of the day, the team of Erin Sivak, Hare, Waszak and Kristen Hutchinson earned the top podium spot in the 200 free relay with a final time of 1:40.77.
Both squads return to the pool after the New Year, heading to Green Bay Jan. 11. The meet begins at 1 p.m. at the Dorschel Natatorium.
