Steve Rader
The Wittenberg swimming and diving teams plunged into the second half of their seasons last weekend, taking on Division I rival Wright State on Friday at home and hitting the road to face perennial national title contender Denison on Saturday. The results were two defeats - by scores of 77-134 (men) and 79-161 (women) against Wright State and 75-127 (men) and 93-132 (women) against Denison - but the very important opportunities to measure up against quality competition.
Against Wright State, Wittenberg got strong performances from sophomore Steve Rader (Concord, Ohio/St. Ignatius), who won the 100-meter butterfly, and seniorRachel Juergens (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central), who won the 400 Individual Medley and 500 freestyle events. Against Denison, Rader was the team's lone first-place finisher on the men's side, while Juergens was strong again in winning the 200 free and 500 free. She has now competed and placed in 11 different events this year, and her winning time in the 400 IM against Wright State was good for an NCAA "B" cut, meaning she is provisionally qualified for the national championship meet in March.
Also turning in strong performances over the weekend were
sophomore Courtney Galliger (Eagan,
Minn./Eagan), who won the 100 backstroke against Wright
State, freshman Jennifer Kay (Strongsville, Ohio/Rocky
River Magnificat) with a personal best in 1000 free,
and senior Elizabeth Bradley (Columbus,
Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) with a lifetime best in
the same event.
Next:
1/26 vs. Transylvania & Emory @ U. of Kentucky, 1
p.m.