Matt Erenpreiss
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg men's swimming and diving team handed Wooster a 30-point defeat at 165-135 Saturday in the first home meet of the 2009-10 season, but the Fighting Scot women narrowly edged out the Tigers by just a four-point advantage at 152-148.
Tiger senior Neil Anderson (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood) was everywhere, taking first place individually or as part of a relay in four different events throughout the meet. Anderson, senior Bobby Ritzi (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek), freshman J.B. Easley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seven Hills) and junior Zachary Stewart (Vincennes, Ind./Lincoln) made up the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team, and Anderson dominated several other events, including the 500 and 200 freestyles and the 200 butterfly.
The highlight of the men's night came with senior Matt Erenpreiss (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial), who scored a 277.70 on the one-meter diving board to set school and pool records and additionally earn provisional qualification for the NCAA Championships. Erenpreiss also won the three-meter event to round out an impressive evening.
Also earning first-place finishes for the men were freshman Michael Garza (Dayton, Ohio/Hampton) (200 back, 100 breast) and junior Chris Culkin (Novi, Mich./Northville) (1000 free). Altogether, the men took first in nine of 16 events.
The women finished just four-points behind the Scots. Due to a malfunction of the timing system during the 500-yard freestyle event, the results originally showed Wittenberg as the winners, though the correction put Wooster ahead. Despite the close loss, Wittenberg had its fair share of success in the meet.
Freestyle relay continued to be a strength, as the Tigers took the 400-yard version thanks to the efforts of senior Janna House (St. Thomas, Ontario/Central Elgin Collegiate Institute), sophomore Sinjin McNicholl (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis), sophomore Rachel Lee (Hickory, N.C./Hickory) and sophomore Cecilia Wille (Knoxville, Tenn./Farragut) after taking the 200-yard version Friday night at Ohio Wesleyan with a similar but not identical crew. Individually, sophomore Megan Tassone (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline) led with three first-place finishes, including the 400-yard medley relay, which also featured House, Lee and sophomore Keaton Hannon (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh). Tassone also took top honors in the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard breaststroke.
McNicholl also placed first in the 50-yard freestyle, while Hannon took the medal in the 200-yard individual medley and Wille added the best time in the 100-yard freestyle. Junior diver Megan Shubitwoski (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson) rounded out the women's top finishers with a No. 1 finish from the one-meter board.
The Tigers are back in action next weekend with two dual meets, first on Friday, Nov. 6, at Transylvania at 7 p.m., followed by a Saturday, Nov. 7, 3 p.m. meeting with DePauw at the HPER Center Natatorium.