Men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams sweep Defiance

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept non-conference dual meets against Defiance (Ohio) College tonight at the Upton Center Pool in Olivet. The men's team beat the Yellow Jackets, 154-57, while the women won, 141-63.

The women's team took first-place in 13-of-14 swimming events. Winning multiple individual events were junior Shana Bush (Alma), sophomore Kira Gates (Grosse Ile), senior Alivia Hammond (Byron Center) and junior Jazmin Johnson (Grand Rapids/Northview).

Bush won 1,000 freestyle (11:37.81), 100 breaststroke (1:24.61) and 500 freestyle (5:46.03). Gates placed first in the 200 butterfly (2:23.29) and 400 individual medley (5:02.14). Hammond claimed the top spot in both backstroke events, winning the 100 in 1:05.32 and 200 in 2:28.21. Johnson touched the wall first in the 50 (:25.59), 100 (:56.49) and 200 (1:59.57) freesttyle events.

The other individual event was senior Katie Dobis (Munster, Ind.) in the 100 butterfly (1:09.35). Olivet also finished first in both relays. Swimming on the winning 400 medley relay were Hammond, Gates, Dobis and senior Milie Funk (Olivet), and their time was 4:27.75. Funk, sophomore Megan Dossey (Trenton), Hammond and Johnson stopped the clock first in the 200 freestyle relay at 1:47.95.

The men's posted team posted the fastest time in 12 swimming events and the best score on the one-meter diving board. Winning multiple individual events were senior Ben Aldrich (DeWitt/St. Johns), junior Phil Bielak (Brownstown/Woodhaven) and sophomore Eric Dawdy (Holt).

Aldrich earned first-place finish times of 1:04.03 in the 100 breaststroke and 22.54 seconds in the 50 freestyle.  Bielak took the top spot in the 200 freestyle (1:49.58) and 200 breaststroke (2:22.67). For the second straight week, Dawdy swept the backstroke events, finishing the 100 in 57.56 seconds and the 200 in 2:07.47.

Other winners were junior Jimmy DeRupa (Trenton) in the 100 freestyle (:51.37), sophomore Taylor Howard (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) in the 400 individual medley (4:34.52), freshman Trey Jennings (Grand Haven) in the 500 freestyle (5:08.79), senior Korey Mervenne (Jenison) in the 1,000 freestyle (10:43.40) and freshman Bryce Prudden (Charlotte) in the one-meter diving (211.45 points).

The Comets also placed first in both relays. Dawdy, Bielak, senior Tyler Russell (Bay City/Central) and Aldrich finished first in the 400 medley relay (3:51.73). The winning quartet in the 200 freestyle relay was Dawdy, DeRupa, Bielak and Aldrich, and their time was 1:32.23.

Olivet will next compete Saturday, Feb. 1, when it hosts Albion College for Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association dual meets, starting at 1 p.m.