John Carroll University Athletics

Day One Individual Event Capsules

Women’s 500 Freestyle Preview
 
Defending champion and conference record holder Dana Lautenschleger from Mount Union is the swimmer everyone will be gunning for in this race. Currently ranked 37th in Division III in this event, Lautenschleger has a seed time more than ten seconds faster than anyone in the field (5:05.47).
Even with Lautenschleger’s dominant time, this is still a stacked field, as eight of the top ten finishers from a year ago potentially return. Teammate Megan Leibensperger was the runner-up in the 500 Freestyle last year and has the second fastest seed time (5:18.85).
The Purple Raiders also feature some veterans who have big time experience in this race. Lauren Lammlein has swam in the A final all three years, and has the fifth fastest time this season (5:24.32). Becky Oblak made a giant leap last year, placing fourth in 2015 after not making the “A” Final in either 2013 (10th) or 2014 (12th). This year she is seeded in fourth (5:23.80).
John Carroll’s Alex Iosue was a finalist last season, and has risen up the ranks with the third fastest time (5:21.19) posted in this event in 2015-16. Senior teammate Jane Verdi was fifth last season and could be a factor again, currently ranked 12th (5:33.70).
Ohio Northern’s Hallie Sautter was tenth in this race a year ago, and is a threat to make the awards stand in 2016 with the seventh fastest time seed time (5:25.55).
Anna Balassa of Transylvania will be a sentimental favorite. She has swam this race her first three years. After an eight place finish in 2013 as a freshman, she has been unable to crack the top eight since. She is currently seeded ninth (5:27.32), just short of the top eight by less than a second.
The top rookie in the field is Mount Union’s Lauren Otkavec, who is seeded sixth (5:24.89).
Other newcomers to watch include Baldwin Wallace’s Jordyn Miller (8th, 5:26.83) and Ohio Northern’s Emily Uhrin (10th, 5:28.71).
 
Men’s 500 Freestyle Preview
 
Freshman  Tom Pacak from John Carroll is the swimmer to beat in this year’s race. With a national Division III raking of 89th and a first place seed (4:42.89), this rookie is looking to stake his claim as one of the top distance swimmers in the OAC.
That being said, defending champion Gavin Rundell out of Mount Union cannot be overlooked. The Purple Raider senior has has swam in the A final for the past two seasons after finishing his freshman year. He has the current second fastest time this season (4:54.05)
In addition to Rundell, the Purple Raiders have four of the top ten seeds --  Marcus Zappa is third (4:54.43), followed by Michael Branch in seventh (5:00.45) and Andrew Otkavec in tenth (5:06.69). Zappa has swam in the A final in all three of his previous championship appearances. Branch placed fifth as a freshman in 2013.
Peter He out of Ohio Northern is another rookie to keep an eye on. He has swam the fourth fastest time this season (4:54.90). Teammate Zach Martin currently holds sixth place in the rankings (4:58.88).
From John Carroll, Adam Bozsvai places in the top heat as a newcomer with a time of 5:05.41, followed by teammate Brian Hulseman shortly behind in ninth (5:05.82). Hulseman is looking to claim his spot back in the A final, defending his third place finish from last year.
Injuries have kept JCU’s Ben Parker from competing in the OAC championships his freshman and sophomore season, but seeding 11th this year (5:08.78), he has a shot at making the A final.
Keep an eye out for Jacob Burk of Baldwin Wallace, currently ranked in fifth place (4:56.77), who also placed in the top heat last year, finishing in seventh.
Wilmington also has a showing in the top 16 of the 500 Freestyle, with Matthew Kitze (5:09.25) and David Spraul (5:11.35) ranked 12th and 13th, respectively.
 
 
Women’s 200 Individual Medley Preview
 
Morgan Cyrus, the defending conference champion out of Transylvania University, is currently seeded third (2:12.36) and has swam in the A final for two years now, and is looking to make it a third.
Allison Lohnes a senior swimmer from Ohio Northern is the swimmer to beat this year, with the top seed time of 2:10.33. She has competed in this event for the past three years and has taken eighth in 2013, second in 2014 and second in 2015.
John Carroll swimmers Carly Adams, Lindsey Fano and Jessica Morrow are all swimmers to watch in this year’s 200 IM. Adams sits with the second fastest time of the season, following a fifth place finish at the 2015 championships. Not far behind is senior Lindsey Fano who has the sixth fastest time of this season, after finishing 6th in 2015 and 1st in 2014 Fano could be a factor once again. Rookie swimmer, Jessica Morrow holds eighth with 2:17.77.
Senior, Rose Aldo of Mount Union has swam in this event for the past three seasons, she placed seventh in 2013, fifth in 2014 and fourth in 2015, Aldo is currently seeded fourth with a time of 2:13.31.
Rookie, Lauren Chaney out of Ohio Northern is sitting in the fifth seed going into this year’s meet with a time of 2:13.95.
Chandler Ashbaugh who has placed in the top eight for the past two seasons has the seventh fastest time this season (2:14.44). Ashbaugh will look to be a factor again this year.
Molly Wheeler of Ohio Northern who progressed this season and has the 9th fastest time (2:18.68), swam in at 12th place in 2015.
Some up and comers to watch this year are Chloe Ruggiero and Sophie Kocheff of John Carroll, Aly Rohrer and Stacie Melody of Ohio Northern, and Kiali Jelinek of Transylvania University.
 
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
 
Defending two time champion out of Mount Union has some up and coming competition this season. In 2014 Tyler Moore won with a time of 1:52.76 and again in 2015 (1:54.70) Moore has the current seventh fastest time (1:59.82)
The first through sixth seededswimmers in this year’s 200 IM are all rookies, swimmers who are either freshman or have never swam this event at the OAC championship before.
Four of those rookie swimmers come from Ohio Northern. Justin Chapman has the fastest time this season (1:55.17), followed by Trevor Keriazes  (1:55.17).
Not far behind is John Raker with the third fastest time this season (1:57.60) and following is Pete He sitting at 4th (1:58.37).
The first non Polar Bear is David Kirtek of John Carroll, a freshman who has the 5th fastest time for this 2015-2016 season (1:58.92).
Two swimmers out of Mount Union, Brian walker and Jack Ineson look to make a contribution to this season’s 200 IM with the 6th and 8th fastest times respectively.
Others to watch for, Erik Spraul out of Wilmington has swam the past two years and placed 8th in  2014 and 11th in 2015. Eric Chen of Ohio Northern, Jack Garrow of John Carroll and Sam Mullen of Transylvania University.
 
Women’s 50 Freestyle
 
With a wide open field in this year’s 50 Freestyle, there are many new swimmers that will be looking to make a “splash” in this year’s OAC Championship. ONU’s Jillian Chapman is currently ranked first (23.65) , and was the runner-up in the 2014 and 2015 races. Another returner is Amanda Casamatta for the Blue Streaks, going into conference seeded second (24.58), following top 12 finishes in 2014 and 2015.
The 50 Freestyle is always an exciting event to watch, with times all being within hundredths of a second. This year will be especially close, with Jillian Chapman’s top time of 23.65 then second through eighth seeds are all within one second of each other to make for a great race.
Other than Jillian Chapman, the top sprinters from Mount Union to watch are Jenna Kassinger, Ann Zielasko, Alex Hamit, and Lauren Lammelein. For John Carroll, Casamatta, Anne Crowley, Mckenzie Stine, and Ann Murphy are top contenders. And from Ohio Northern, Sydney Veon is currently seeded third, followed by contenders Emily Uhrin and Molly Wheeler.
One last swimmer to watch is Chandler Ashbaugh swimming for the Yellow Jackets, going into the conference championship ranked fifth.
With seven newcomers for this year’s 50 Freestyle, it will be a great race to watch and see who comes out on top.  
 
Men’s 50 Freestyle
 
With the top 15 times going into the conference championship all within one second for the men’s 50 Freestyle this year, it will be a really close call. Tom Golba from ONU is seeded first going into the meet with a 21.27, improving significantly from a seventh place finish in 2015. Mitchel Murphy, also from Ohio Northern, placed 2nd in 2015 with a seed time of 21.49, and 7th in 2014, going in at second this year.
Ohio Northern has stacked their lineup in the 50 with seven of the top eight seeds, possibly dominating the “A” final on Thursday night. The eighth seed, Justin Chapman, has a time of 21.90 going into the championships, just 0.63 of a second behind the first seed.
Others looking to make an impact include senior David Hawk, reigning champion from Wilmington College who finished with a time of 20.85, Logan Rogers and Tyler Moore  for the Raiders, as well as Edward Freeman and Cameron Brewer of Transylvania.
Considering the 25th place seed, Ryan Singler from JCU, has a time of 22.86, under a two second difference with the first place seed, this race will be exciting. With nearly half of the top seeds as veterans to the OAC, this year’s competition will not be too different than the past, but close times and reigning champion, this is a race you won’t want to miss.