Wittenberg Swimmers Await Qualification For NCAA Division III Championship Meet

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Steve Rader

The Wittenberg swimming and diving teams are now officially in the home stretch of the 2001-02 season, and with just the NCAA Division III Championship Meet remaining, several swimmers are still awaiting word on their postseason fates.

Two Tiger swimmers have already qualified for the national meet, both for a second year in a row. Senior Rachel Juergens (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central) and sophomore Steve Rader (Painesville, Ohio/Cleveland St. Ignatius) will both be competing in the championship meet, slated for March 14-16 for the women and March 21-23 for the men at Miami University.

Juergens has qualified for the NCAA meet in the 1650-yard freestyle, the 500 free and the 400 Individual Medley. Her times in the 500 free and 400 IM, which was a school record, are strong NCAA "B" cuts and are expected to stand up against the top times in the nation. In the 1650 free, she made an NCAA National automatic cut with a time of 17:24 at the NCAC Championship meet. Juergens has set no less than nine school records in her two years as a Tiger.

Rader captured a first place finish in the 200 IM at the NCAC meet and was the only Tiger swimmer to be an individual conference champion. In addition, Rader finished second in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 200 butterfly. He posted NCAA "B" cut times in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly, both of which are expected to earn him an invitation to compete in the NCAA meet.<

Senior Paula Hauser (Mason, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame), an NCAA qualifier a year ago who finished sixth in the 200 breaststroke and seventh in the 100 breaststroke, both of which are NCAA "B" cut but are not expected to get her to nationals. SeniorMelissa Beck (Williamsville, N.Y./Carmel (Ind.)) bettered her time in the 100 fly at last weekend's Case Western Reserve last chance meet to earn an NCAA "B" cut, but she also is not expected to advance for a second straight year.

Elizabeth Bradley (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) had a great meet at Case Western, swimming a lifetime-best time in the 1650 free and dropping 10 seconds in just one week. She is not, however, qualified for the NCAA meet.

Back on the men's side, senior Jeremy Lazarus (Moens, France/Ferney-Voltaire), a national qualifier a year ago, has made an NCAA "B" cut in the 100 breast, but he also is not expected to advance. And rounding things out, sophomore Alex Berger (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) finished fourth in the 100 breast at the NCAC meet and has a "B" cut in the event, but he also is not expected to move on.

Next: (Women) 3/14-16 @ NCAA Meet