Best Times Abound As Buckeyes Wrap Up Ohio State Winter Invitational

2022 Ohio State Winter Invitational

• February 11-13, 2022
• Columbus, Ohio
• Day 1 Results
• Day 2 Results
• Day 3 Results

Courtesy: Ohio State Athletics

Day 1 Recap

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Thirteen Buckeye swimmers helped Ohio State to seven event wins during the first day of the Ohio State Winter Invitational on Friday evening at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.

Event Wins

• 200 Free Relay – Luke Paxton, Daniel Baltes, Josh Bogniard, Tim Kalin (1:19.78)
• 500 Free – Meredith Moellering (4:48.19)
• 500 Free – Matthew Magness (4:22.19)
• 200 IM – Nathan Holty (1:46.32)
• 50 Free – Mairin O’Brien (22.97)
• 50 Free – Daniel Baltes (20.16)
• 400 Medley Relay – Brandon Day, Ian Mikesell, Luke Paxson, Jay Johnson (3:12.50)

NCAA B Standards

Matthew Magness – 500 freestyle (4:22.19); Nathan Holty – 200 IM (1:46.32)

Meet Notes

• All three Buckeye women racing the 500 freestyle recorded season-best times in the prelims on Friday. Meredith Moellering finished first in the morning session in 4:50.12. Claire Pophal followed in 4:55.36. Mia Lachey took fourth in the prelims in 4:57.87. Moellering (4:48.19) and Pophal (4:53.00) finished first and second in the finals while also swimming career-bests,
• Matthew Magness led the way for the men’s team in the 500 freestyle finals, racing an NCAA B cut and personal-best time of 4:22.19. Jay Johnson, who raced a personal record during the prelims, touched in a time of 4:23.57 for second for his second career-best time of the day. Brandon Day finished third in the finals in 4:28.97, but recorded a personal-best finish during the prelims (4:27.34).
• In the 200 IM, Sarah Turchanik took second for the women in a season-best time of 2:01.75. Leah Baker also recorded a season-best time of 2:06.29 in the finals for sixth overall.
• Sophomore Nathan Holty recorded an NCAA B cut and personal-best time (1:46.32) in the 200 IM to win the event final. The Buckeyes took the next five-best times of the finals. Owen Conley finished second in the finals (1:47.57) after racing a career-best 1:46.84 in the prelims. Michael Cooper (1:47.57) and Luke Paxton (1:48.00) earned personal-best times in the finals while Ryan Trichler (1:48.28) raced a season-best in the finals. Ian Mikesell finished in a time of 1:50.53 in the finals after racing a career-best 1:49.18 in the prelims.
• Mairin O’Brien won the 50 free finals for the women in a time of 22.97. Mackenzie Dewitt took third in a career-best 23.00. Finishing fourth for the Buckeyes was Amanda Palutsis in 23.02. She raced a season-best 23.00 in the morning prelim session. Brynna Wolfe ended the day with a season-best time of 24.53.
• Daniel Baltes paced the Buckeyes in the 50 free finals with an event-winning time of 20.16, also a career best for the freshman. RJ Kondalski took second in a season-best 20.28. In third for Ohio State, with a career-high finish, was Tim Kalin (20.28). Josh Bogniard took fourth overall in a time of 20.66 after earning a career-high finish in prelims (20.61).
• The Ohio State A relay of Brynna Wolfe, Leah Baker, Sarah Turchanik and Mia Lachey raced a time of 3:41.81 to take second in the 400 medley relay.
• Ohio State’s men’s A relay of Day, Mikesell, Paxton and Johnson earned the win in 3:12.50 to close out the first day of the invitational.

Up Next

The Ohio State Winter Invitational continues tomorrow with prelims starting at 11 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m. from the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Events to be raced include the 200 medley relay, 100 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and the 800 freestyle relay.

Day 2 Recap

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State swimmers saw plenty of success during Saturday’s finals session of the Ohio State Winter Invitational at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Seven Buckeyes raced NCAA B qualifying times while nine student-athletes recorded career-best finishes.

Event Wins

• Men’s 200 Medley Relay – 1:26.62
• Men’s 100 Fly – Luke Paxton – 47.53
• Men’s 400 IM – Nathan Holty – 3:47.57
• Women’s 200 Free – Meredith Moellering – 1:48.46
• Women’s 100 Breast – Leah Baker – 1:00.05
• Men’s 100 Breast – Ian Mikesell – 53.09
• Men’s 100 Back – RJ Kondalski – 47.38
• Men’s 800 Free Relay – 6:37.62

NCAA B Standards

Nathan Holty – 400 IM (3:47.57), Michael Cooper – 400 IM (3:49.13), Owen Conley – 400 IM (3:49.68), Ryan Trichler – 400 IM (3:50.42), Leah Baker – 100 Breast (1:00.05), Ian Mikesell – 100 Breast (53.09), RJ Kondalski – 100 Back (47.38)

Meet Notes

• The afternoon finals session started off with the 200 medley relay. The women’s team of Brynna Wolfe, Leah Baker, Amanda Palutsis and Mairin O’Brien finished in a time of 1:41.41 for second. The men’s team of Brandon Day, Ian Mikesell, Luke Paxton and Daniel Baltes raced unopposed, recording a time of 1:26.62.
• For the men, Luke Paxton raced a 47.53 in the 100 butterfly to win the final heat and set a career-best time in the event. Mackenzie Dewitt led the women with a season-best time of 55.14 to take fourth. Sarah Turchanik (55.17) and Mairin O’Brien (56.08) both touched the wall in season-best times.
• The Buckeye men dominated the 400 IM, with Nathan Holty (3:47.57), Michael Cooper (3:49.13), Owen Conley (3:49.68) and Ryan Trichler (3:50.42) all racing NCAA B cuts. Holty and Trichler earned personal-best times while Cooper, Conley and Matthew Magness (3:52.89) swam season-best finishes.
• Meredith Moellering won the 200 freestyle finals in a career-best 1:48.46. Mia Lachey (1:51.71) and Claire Pophal (1:52.12) both earned season-best marks in the event finals.
• In the 100 breaststroke, Leah Baker and Ian Mikesell both raced NCAA B cut finishes in their respective races. Baker touch the wall in a career-best time of 1:00.05. Mikesell also recorded a personal-best time, finishing in 53.09.
• RJ Kondalski earned an NCAA B standard finish in the 100 backstroke on Saturday evening, racing a final season-best time of 47.38. Brandon Day (47.96) and Josh Bogniard (48.81) earned career-best finishes in the finals while Luke Paxton (48.26) and Tim Kalin (48.73) recorded career-best times in the prelim session. For the women, Brynna Wolfe earned a season-best finish of 54.81 in the finals.
• The Buckeyes’ A team closed out the day with a win in the 800 freestyle relay, racing a time of 6:37.62.

Up Next

The Buckeyes continue to compete at the 2022 Ohio State Winter Invitational tomorrow beginning with prelims at 11 a.m. and finals at 4 p.m. from the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Teams will race the 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay.

Day 3 Recap

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Buckeye swim team finished the 2022 Ohio State Winter Invitational on a high note with 19 swimmers achieving season or career-best times on Sunday at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Over three days of racing, the student-athletes earned their best finishes of the season with a total of nine swimmers meeting NCAA B cuts.

Sunday Event Wins

• Men’s 1650 Free – Matthew Magness (15:26.84)
• Men’s 200 Back – Brandon Day (1:45.07)
• Women’s 100 Free – Mairin O’Brien (50.37)
• Men’s 100 Free – Daniel Baltes (43.94)
• Women’s 200 Breast – Leah Baker (2:14.85)
• Men’s 200 Breast – Ian Mikesell (1:58.94)
• Women’s 200 Fly – Sarah Turchanik (2:00.92)
• Men’s 200 Fly – Ryan Trichler (1:47.22)
• Men’s 400 Free Relay – Ohio State A (3:02.26)

Morning Session

The Buckeyes started off the day with seven personal-best swims. Brandon Day swam a 1:46.48 in the 200 backstroke prelims to set a personal record. In the 100 freestyle, Daniel Baltes (44.25) and Jay Johnson (44.42) earned their fastest career finishes while Ian Mikesell and Nathan Holty earned personal-best times of 1:59.16 and 1:59.68, respectively, in the 200 breaststroke. Luke Paxton (1:47.87) and Ryan Trichler (1:51.09) closed out the session in the 200 butterfly with personal bests.

Ohio State finished the first session of the day with 15 student-athletes reaching at least season-best finishes.

Final Session

Mia Lachey led the way in the first race of the finals, finishing in a career-best time of 17:15.83 in the 1650 freestyle. Claire Pophal also raced the mile, finishing in a time of 17:41.24. In the men’s race, Matthew Magness earned a career-best time of 15:26.84.

Five Buckeyes raced in the 200 backstroke finals, with Brandon Day earning a win in the men’s race. He improved his personal-best time set in the prelims with a 1:45.07 finish for the Buckeyes. Tim Kalin also set a career-best in a time of 1:50.12. In his second race of the day, RJ Kondalski beat his season-best time in 1:45.64. Owen Conley (1:46.42) also bested his season best for the second time in the day. For the women, Brynna Wolfe finished in a time of 2:07.40.

Mairin O’Brien led the way for the Buckeye women in the 100 freestyle, improving on her morning swim to finish in a season-best time of 50.37. In second for Ohio State was Amanda Palutsis, who also bested her preliminary performance in a time of 50.48. Makenzie Dewitt finished in a time of 51.71 for fourth.

In the men’s 100 free finals, Daniel Baltes won in a career-best time of 43.94. Jay Johnson (44.16) and Josh Bogniard (45.34) finished two-three in personal-best times.

Finishing one-two-three in the 200 breaststroke was Ohio State’s Ian Mikesell (1:58.94), Nathan Holty (1:59.46) and Michael Cooper (2:00.60). Both Mikesell and Holty bested their person records set in the prelims while Cooper tied his season-best performance. Leah Baker won the 200 breaststroke final with a career-best time of 2:14.85 for the women.

Ohio State’s men and women took first and second in the 200 butterfly. Sarah Turchanik led the women with a 2:00.92 finish for a season-best swim. Meredith Moellering finished in 2:01.75. Ryan Trichler won the men’s race in a time of 1:47.22 to best his career record in the event. Luke Paxton raced to a 1:47.93 finish.

Ohio State men’s 400 freestyle relay closed out the day, racing a 3:02.26 in the event finals.

Up Next

Conference championship season has officially arrived. The Buckeye women make the trip to Madison, Wisc. for the 2022 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 16-19. The men’s conference championship is set for Feb. 23-26 at Purdue.