The Akron women and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), a Division II school, men are the leaders through day one of the Zippy Invitational. Akron placed a swimmer in the top three of each event, while the IUP and Bloomsburg men emerged as the top two teams through day one.
Team scores through day one:
Women:
- Akron: 597
- Marshall: 518
- Illinois State: 457
- Clarion University 302
- Bloomsburg University: 291
- IUP: 258
- Niagara: 111
- Franklin & Marshall College: 103
- University at Buffalo: 49
- Malone University: 16
Men:
- IUP: 570
- Bloomsburg University: 467.5
- Niagara: 412
- Clarion University: 383.5
- Franklin & Marshall College
- University at Buffalo
Full results are available here
Women’s 200 freestyle relay
Akron got things rolling early with a victory in the relay. Ashley Niznik, Susan Franz, Taylor Hart, and Hannah Raspopovich touched in 1:33.06. Raspopovich led the way for the Zips with a 22.94 anchor split, the only swimmer under 23 on any relay.
Illinois State was second in 1:33.77 from Marissa Yontz, Sammy Schuckles, Lexi Nash, and Katherine Nelson. Yontz had the fastest split for the Redbirds, from the leadoff, a 23.26.
Marshall rounded out the top three with a 1:34.68 effort from Danica Ross, Gloriya Mavrova, Lauren Cowher, and Lauren Hurd. Ross had the fastest split, also from the leadoff, a 23.37.
Men’s 200 freestyle relay
Bloomsburg overcame trailing early to take the victory in the men’s half of the relay.Eric Usbeck split a 21.03 for Bloomsburg, which couldn’t keep pace with Andrew Richey of IUP, who went out in a 20.81.
After the leadoff, however, it was all Bloomsburg, as the rest of the relay split 20.63 or faster. A.J. Brady, Sam Feiser, and Jake Harner of Bloomsburg held off Yuri Fernandes, Paul Singerman, and Zach Fountain to take the victory in 1:22.62. IUP’s relay finished second in 1:23.12.
Niagara’s team of Shane Baxter, Eric Erbert, and Edgar Melchor finished third in 1:24.71.
Women’s 500 freestyle
Kaley Gregory and Madison Pulfer teamed up for a one two finish in the women’s 500 for Marshall. Gregory was 4:55.68. Pulfer finished in 4:55.70.
Pulfer built for the last 200, getting faster over each 50, and out Gregory on all three 50’s of the last 150. However, Gregory was able to hold on and take home the victory.
Akron’s Ashley Drazkowski was Third in 4:55.82. Nele Albers and Kacey Preun were fourth and fifth for Marshall in 4:57.20 and 4:58.66, respectively.
Men’s 500 freestyle
IUP swept the top three spots in the men’s 500, and took the fifth spot as well. Alex Plimpton, Brandon Hopkins, and Matthew Nakagama were the top three finishers in 4:33.09, 4:33.37, and 4:35.72, respectively.
Shawn Warner of Niagara was the only non IUP swimmer in the top five. Warner touched in 4:37.05. Chris Strauss was fifth for IUP in 4:39.56.
Women’s 200 IM
Akron’s Niznik too the 200 IM for the Zips in another close race. The junior out touched a hard charging Emma Lockyear from Marshall. Niznik had a 1.99 second advantage going into the breast stroke, and Lockyear made up all but .02 seconds of that deficit.
Niznik finished in 2:04.58, Lockyear was 2:04.60. Kelsey Ferrante was third for Akron in 2:04.83. Erin Seiler was fourth for Akron with a 2:05.07 performance.
Men’s 200 IM
Fernandes and teammate Zach Fountain were one two in the men’s 200 IM for IUP, the second straight event IUP took at least the top two spots.
Fernandes won in 1:51.31 Fountain was second in 1:51.62. Baxter was third for Niagara in 1:51.81.
Women’s 50 freestyle
Illinois State got an individual win from Marissa Yontz, who took the 50 freestyle with 23.15. She was challenged by Marshall’s ross, who was only two points behind in 23.17.
Raspopovich and Susan Franz were third and fourth for the Zips in 23.29 and 23.51, respectively.
Men’s 50 freestyle
Richey of IUP dropped time from the prelim session to take the win in the men’s half of the sprint. Richey finished in 20.90, just ahead of Feiser of Bloomsburg, who was second in 20.94. Usbeck was third for Bloomsburg.
Feiser and Usbeck were both under 21 Friday morning, but neither was quite as fast in the afternoon session, allowing Richey to sneak into the win.
Bloomsburg also had Pat Stasio, A.J. Brady, and Josh Grzech finish fourth, fifth, and sixth, in 21.13, 21.15, and 21.22, respectively.
Women’s 400 medley relay
Akron scored a one two finish in the medley relay, and it, a huge points bost. Ludwika Szynal, Amanda Lawson, Erin Seiler, and Raspopovich touched in 3:44.27.
Their teammates on the B relay, Niznik, Kristen Vargas, Franz, and Taylor Hart, took second in 3:47.83. Bloomsburg finished third in 3:47.89 with the team of Alex Wheatley, Nikki Young, Rachel Brooker, Meghan Gallagher, good for an NCAA DII B cut.
Men’s 400 medley relay
Another event and a another top finish for IUP. Rudy Da Costa, Fountain, Benjamin Adams, and Fernandes hit an NCAA DII B cut with a 3:21.80.
Niagara had the next fastest relay in 3:24.63 from Baxter, Edgar Melchor, Shawn Warner, and Eric Ebert. Bloomsburg was third in 3:26.75 with the team of Brady, Tyler Washington, Josh Grzech, and Stasio.
