Men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams finish in fifth and sixth-place

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Olivet College men's and women's swimming and diving teams have finished in fifth and sixth-place at the 2014 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championships. The Comet men totaled 314 points over the four days of competition, while the women had 248 points.

Sophomore Eric Dawdy (Holt) was the best finisher on the night, as he took second in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:53.30. The time was a personal-best and the second-fastest in school history. Senior Korey Mervenne (Jenison) finished in 16th-place with a time of 2:11.45.

In the 100 freestyle, senior Ben Aldrich (DeWitt/St. Johns) touched the wall sixth with a time of 46.37 seconds, which is a lifetime-best for him and the third fastest in school history. Mervenne also finished in sixth-place in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 17:13.29.

Three Comets advanced to the consolation finals of the 200 breaststroke, with sophomore Taylor Howard (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) winning the heat with a personal-best time of 2:08.42. It was also the third-best time in school history. Junior Phil Bielak (Brownstown/Woodhaven) placed 13th with a career-best time of 2:12.82.

Senior Tyler Russell (Bay City/Central) was 11th in the 200 butterfly with a personal-best time of 2:02.88. The 400 freestyle relay quartet of Dawdy, junior Jimmy DeRupa (Trenton), Bielak and Aldrich placed fifth with a time of 3:12.04.

Freshman Bryce Prudden (Charlotte) scored 346.95 points to finish in third-place on the three-meter diving board.

Junior Jazmin Johnson (Grand Rapids/Northview) had the best finish for the Olivet women. She was fourth in the 100 freestyle with a time of 53.20 seconds. During the preliminaries, Johnson swam a personal-best time of 53.10 seconds, which is also the third-fastest time in school history in the event.

Sophomore Kira Gates (Grosse Ile) finished in fourth-place in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:14.26, which was a career-best time for her and the second-fastest in school history. Junior Shana Bush (Alma) touched the wall in eighth-place in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 18:38.24.

The Comets had three swimmers reach the consolation finals of the 200 backstroke. Senior Katie Dobis (Munster, Ind.) was the top finisher, as she placed 12th with a time of 2:18.39. Bush was 13th with a time of 2:19.54, followed by senior Alivia Hammond (Byron Center) in 15th-place at 2:21.49.

The 400 freestyle relay team of Gates, Hammond, Dobis and Johnson was sixth with a time of 3:42.35.