University at Buffalo
MAC Championships (Women)
Women's Swim Championships Conclude
3/2/2013 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
BUFFALO, NY - Miami University won the 2013 Mid-American Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Championships while the University at Buffalo placed fifth among the eight squads as the league meet concluded on Saturday night at UB's Alumni Arena Natatorium.
Junior Brittney Kuras was named the league's Outstanding Swimmer for the second consecutive season as she won her third individual event and third relay race of the championships. Kuras and Mallory Morrell finished first and second as the Bulls claimed the 100-yard freestyle. Kuras, the defending champion in the event, established a new MAC meet and pool record with her victory in 48.89 seconds as Morrell touched second in 49.47 as both swimmers earned NCAA B qualifying standards.
The Bulls also won the final event of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay in a pool record time of 3:20.24. The foursome included Morrell, Marissa Murphy, Karly Moore and Kuras.
Kuras, Morrell and Jessica Powers all earned All-MAC First Team nods.
"They really stepped up tonight. They ended on a high note. That's how you want to finish a meet," said head coach Andy Bashor.
Ohio's Laurin Williams won the 1,650-yard freestyle championship in a pool record 16:14.60. Powers set the UB record of 16:24.96 to place third overall while Paula Stoddard finished fifth in 16:54.24.
Bowling Green's Alexa Harris won the 200-yard backstroke in a pool record time of 1:57.30, lowering the mark she set in Saturday's preliminary heats by a half-second. Alexis Valedon was 15th for the Bulls in 2:03.22.
Ball State's Bridgette Ruehl touched out Bowling Green's Daniela Carrillo-Avilez by .18 hudredths of a second to win the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:11.77. Carrillo-Avilez set the UB pool record of 2:11.20 in the Saturday heats. Spencer Rodriguez placed 13th in 2:18.78.
Jessie Godlewski of Eastern Michigan came out of lane eight to win the 200-yard butterfly in a MAC, MAC meet and pool record 1:57.70. She won the race by nearly two seconds over Toledo's Mckenzie Bagan. UB's Rachael Ragen set the school record to win consolation final, ninth overall, in 2:02.16.
Eastern Michigan's Danielle Hulvey won the three-meter diving championship to go along to her one-meter championship on Thursday. Hulvey finished Saturday night's event with a six-dive total of 368.95 points. She set the MAC, MAC meet and UB pool records in Friday's preliminaries with a total of 393.65.
The Bulls placed fifth with 421 total points for the three-day meet. Miami won the team title with 621 though the RedHawks did not win a single individual or relay championship, the first time in the league meet's 33-year history. Miami's depth helped them to the title as they did take five second-place and four third-place finishes during the weekend.
Prior to Saturday's final round, Eastern Michigan's Briana Emig was named the league's Outstanding Senior. Other nominees included Kelsea Cross (Akron), Jillian Bischoff (Ball State), Alexis Kain (Bowling Green), Morrell (Buffalo), Leah Thornton (Miami), Lauren Funk (Ohio) and Carly Harter (Toledo).
A complete list of team scores and league honorees is listed below.
Final team scores: Miami 621, Ohio 505, Bowling Green 467, Eastern Michigan 450, Buffalo 421, Toledo 394, Ball State 345, Akron 302.
Saturday's champions
1650 freestyle: Laurin Williams (Ohio) 16:14.60
200 backstroke: Alexa Harris (Bowling Green) 1:57.30
100 freestyle: Brittney Kuras (Buffalo) 48.89
200 breaststroke: Bridgette Ruehl (Ball State) 2:11.77
200 butterfly: Jessie Godlewski (Eastern Michigan) 1:57.70
3-meter diving: Danielle Hulvey (Eastern Michigan) 368.95
400 freestyle relay: Buffalo (Mallory Morrell, Marissa Murphy, Karly Moore, Brittney Kuras) 3:20.24
All-MAC First Team: Briana Emig (Eastern Michigan), Brittney Kuras (Buffalo), Mallory Morrell (Buffalo), Danielle Hulvey (Eastern Michigan), Carly Harter (Toledo), Mallory Miles (Ball State), Bridgette Ruehl (Ball State), Addy Ferguson (Ohio), Laurin Williams (Ohio), Alexa Harris (Bowling Green), Jessie Godlewski (Eastern Michigan), Jessica Powers (Buffalo), Cat Carr (Akron), Bekka Westrick (Miami), Beth Rogers (Toledo).
All-MAC Second Team: Leah Thornton (Miami), Emily Wisolek (Ball State), Maegan O'Connor (Miami), Courtney Collett (Miami), Mckenzie Bagan (Toledo), Katey Brooks (Ohio), Stephanie Boyle (Bowling Green), Aubrey Kluth (Miami), Emily Waller (Bowling Green), Daniela Carrillo-Avilez (Bowling Green), Kelly Hendricks (Eastern Michigan), Jackie Swartz (Eastern Michigan), Joelle Scheps (Bowling Green), Maria Bargardi (Toledo), Lauren Funk (Ohio), Alexis Kain (Bowling Green), Nichole Wagner (Miami).
Outstanding Diver: Danielle Hulvey (Eastern Michigan).
Diving Coach of the Year: Buck Smith (Eastern Michigan)
Outstanding Swimmer: Brittney Kuras (Buffalo).
Swimming Coach of the Year: Petra Martin (Bowling Green).
Outstanding Senior Award: Briana Emig (Eastern Michigan).
