Men’s and women’s swimming teams sweep dual meet with North Central

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Olivet College men's and women's swimming teams swept dual meets with North Central (Ill.) College today at the International Swimming Hall of Fame Pool in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The men's team beat the Cardinals, 120-41, while the women defeated them, 124-116. The meet was a part of the Comets' annual training trip to the Sunshine state.

The men's team took first-place in each of the 12 events. Freshman Brandon McShane (Southgate/Anderson) was a triple winner. He won both backstroke events, the 50 in 26.02 seconds and the 100 in 57.14 seconds. McShane then swam the leadoff leg of the winning 200 medley relay. Joining him on the relay were sophomore Adam Rhein (Leonard/Romeo), senior Mike Harden (St. Johns) and sophomore Ben Aldrich (DeWitt/St. Johns). Their time was 1:39.74.

Freshman Georges Aoun (Barquisimeto, Venezuela/Unidad Educativa Colegio) had the fastest times in the 100 butterfly (:55.19) and 100 individual medley (:57.61). Freshman Jimmy DeRupa (Trenton) took first-place in the 200 freestyle (1:51.94) and 100 freestyle (:50.13). Senior Matt Marquette (Kalamazoo/Loy Norrix) was also a double winner, as he won the 50 breaststroke (:28.62) and 100 breaststroke (1:03.45).

Sophomore Brian Fiorillo (Southgate/Anderson) touched the wall first in the 50 freestyle (:22.18). Junior Joel Knight (Battle Creek/Lakeview) recorded the quickest time in the 50 butterfly (:24.85). The 200 freestyle relay team of Aldrich, freshman Phil Bielak (Brownstown/Woodhaven), Fiorillo and Harden finished first in 1:30.59.

For the women, freshman Jazmin Johnson (Grand Rapids/Northview) and senior Caitlin Lohr (Holland/Hamilton) each won two events and was second in a third event. Johnson placed first in the 100 freestyle (:56.97) and 200 freestyle (2:05.88), and second in the 50 breast (:33.63). Lohr claimed the top spot in the 50 freestyle (:24.77) and 50 butterfly (:27.82). She finished second in the 100 individual medley (1:05.25).

Senior Jessica Howard (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) along with freshman Shana Bush (Alma) and sophomore Kristin Long (Pemberville, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy) won the 505 scramble in 5:59.07. Finishing in the second-place were junior Jana Blodgett (Sturgis) in the 50 freestyle (:27.30), sophomore Alivia Hammond (Byron Center) in the 100 backstroke (1:08.18) and freshman Kaitlin Smith (Port Huron) in the 100 breaststroke (1:16.90).

Olivet's two "A" relays posted the second-fastest times. The 200 medley relay quartet of Hammond, Smith, Lohr and Blodgett stopped the clock at 1:58.70. The 200 freestyle relay team of sophomore Camieo Green (Battle Creek/Harper Creek), Hammond, Blodgett and Johnson had a time of 1:50.14.

The Comets will continue their training in Florida and return to Michigan next Monday, Dec. 19. The women will host Saint Mary's (Ind.) College Friday, Jan. 13, at 6 p.m., while both teams will host Alma College Saturday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m.