The men’s swimming and diving team reached the conclusion the 2017 MAC Championship tonight, garnering many individual successes.
“Overall it was a fantastic season. We had a great championship,” said head coach Rickey Perkins. “We are better than we were last year at this point, and that is our goal—to get better each year. I am so proud of these young men and how they fought and stayed together and focused all week.”
Before the finals session, the senior class of 2017 was honored. The Evansville class includes Everett Plocek, Nick Riffel, Matt Childress, and Andrew Cotton.
The final day of the MAC Championship was kicked off with four Aces competing in the 1650 freestyle. Freshman Brandt Hudson led the way for the Aces, finishing in 14th place with a final time of 16:15.13.
Sophomore Jared Sutphin returned to the evening session in the 100 freestyle. He clocked in at 46.09 to earn 12th place. He went into the morning preliminaries seeded at a 47.20, finishing the consolation final with a new best time of over a second.
Sophomore Miguel Marcano participated in the 3-Meter consolation final last night. With the conclusion of tonight’s A-Final, Marcano received an official place of 16th with a score of 207.90.
In the morning preliminaries, junior Brendan Ninneman earned a best time of 1:56.91 in the 200 backstroke.
Hudson, sophomore Matt Duke, Sutphin, and freshman Zack Sagan took to the water one last time for the 400 Freestyle Relay. The group edged out the Ball State relay to take 6th place with a 3:05.00.
In the 100 freestyle prelims, sophomore Matt Duke shaved off a half a second for a season best of 47.26. Freshman Zack Sagan dropped nearly two seconds for a season best 47.44, followed by senior Matt Childress with a best 47.50. Junior Gabe James improved by a second for a final 48.62, and freshman Drew Sutphin rounded out the event with a 49.33, a best time by half a second.
The Evansville 200 breaststroke representatives both put up stellar individual performances. Sophomores Derek Stauder and Keystone Marcy clocked in 2:10.84 and 2:15.88 respectively. Stauder’s time was an improvement by a second and a half, while Marcy’s improved by a whopping 9 and a half.
Bringing up the preliminary rear was the 200 butterfly. Freshman Paul Cozzens dropped a tenth of a second for a best time 1:53.33. Junior Prescott Marcy followed with a 1:55.39, and sophomore Andrew Schroeder.
The final standings were as follows: Eastern Michigan—717; Missouri State—716; Buffalo—661.5; Miami (Ohio)—518.5; Ball State—147; Evansville—146.
The men will return for the 2017-2018 season in September. Women’s diver Courtney Coverdale will travel to Bloomington, IN for the NCAA Diving Zones next Friday.
