COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s swimming and diving team is scheduled to take on the Toledo Rockets Friday evening in Toledo, Ohio. Marking the first competitive action for the Buckeyes since November, the meet will commence at 4 p.m. ET.
TICKETS, GET YOUR TICKETS
This season the Buckeyes will welcome their Big Ten counterparts to McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion for the 2015 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, Feb. 18-21. Tickets for the premier event will go on sale Friday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. ET and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com or by calling the athletic ticket office at 1-800-745-3000.
LAST TIME OUT
The Buckeyes placed fourth overall at the Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 23 collecting 652.5 points – a mere 45.5 points shy of third-place finisher Wisconsin. Sophomore Lindsey Clary broke a school record in the 1650 freestyle (16.13.63) and acquired an NCAA “B” cut time, while the rest of the squad posted 24 season-best times.
“I’m pleased, we have some kids going lifetime bests without the benefit of tech suits,” Ohio State women’s swimming head coach Bill Dorenkott said. “Today was our best day in terms of being solid this morning and solid tonight.”
Representing the Buckeye diving unit, senior Taylor Ford and freshman Brittany Menniger claimed top-5 finishes on the platform and 3-meter dive. Ford received a score of 255.60 to capture third in the platform, followed by Menniger with 289.55 for fifth overall.
BUCKEYES REP AT NATIONALS
Six Buckeye standouts suited up at USA Swimming’s 2014 AT&T Winter National Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Taking place December 3-6, the Buckeyes competed against some of the nation’s top swimming talent with sophomore Lindsey Clary securing a national title in the 400 individual medley (4:09.87).
“We are unbelieveably proud of Lindsey,” Dorenkott said. “Her passion for the sport, willingness to prepare and ability to step up when the lights are bright are the hallmarks of a champion.”
Other team members representing the Buckeyes included Ashley Vance, Erin Dunseith, Amy Bopp, Annie Jongekrijg and Zulal Zeren.
MAKING THE GRADE
Ohio State has earned 12 NCAA provisional times so far this season, while four Buckeyes currently hold one of the top-50 times in the NCAA.
NCAA Provisional Qualifying Times
50 Freestyle
Li (22.67)
100 Freestyle
Li (49.92)
1650 Freestyle
Clary (16:13.63)
100 Backstroke
Zeren (54.62)
200 Backstroke
Zeren (1:56.27)
Gillig (1:59.00)
100 Breaststroke
Vance (1:01.96)
200 Breaststroke
Bopp (2:12.40)
Vance (2:13.85)
200 Butterfly
Bopp (1:59.51)
200 Medley
Vance (1:58.41)
400 Medley
Clary (4:09.87)
NCAA Rankings
50 Freestyle
45. Li (22.62)
1000 Freestyle
26. Clary (9:54.61)
1650 Freestyle
18. Clary (16:13.63)
100 Breaststroke
33. Vance (1:01.12)
BUCKEYES VS. THE B1G
The Buckeyes have posted eight top-10 times in the Big Ten. Senior Ashley Vance ranks first in the 200 individual medley, while Zhesi Li, Zeren, Bopp, Vance and Clary are also among the conference’s standout performers. Clary ranks second in the 400 individual medley and fifth in the 1650 freestyle, while Vance is fourth in the 100 breaststroke and ninth in the 200 breaststroke. Also in the 200 breaststroke, Bopp claims the seventh-fastest mark. Li, a freshman this season, is sixth in the 50 freestyle and Zeren is eighth in the 200 backstroke.
EMBRACING ELI
Eli Boda, a 13-year old from Columbus, Ohio, was adopted by the Buckeyes through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FOJ), a non-profit, charitable organization formed in 2005 that aims to improve the quality of life for children with pediatric brain tumors and their families.
On May 19, 2014, Eli was diagnosed with a mass on his brain after a seizure caused him to unexpectedly collapse. Since then, a slew of radiation and chemotherapy has followed, taking a toll on both Eli and his loved ones.
Now, Eli has an extended family in the Buckeyes to lean on for support during challenging times. For more information on Eli, his family and his story, visit the following links: Friends of Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, Facebook, Caring Bridge and Go Fund Me.
UP NEXT
Ohio State travels to East Lansing, Mich. for a Big Ten showdown with Michigan State on Jan. 23 (4 p.m. ET). The Buckeyes then trek to Ann Arbor, Mich. the next day for a dual with rival Michigan (12 p.m. ET).
