Mike Shelby ended his collegiate career on a high note, helping the Ohio men's swimming and diving team to a fourth-place finish with 465 points at the Mid-American Conference Championships.
Shelby, who was a first team All-MAC selection, swam a lifetime-best, winning the 100-yard butterfly in 48.55.
Coach Greg Werner said Shelby has been training hard to win the event after finishing second last year.
He has been preparing ever since last year to win the 100 fly
he said. It was very satisfying as a coach to see him win that event. Shelby was on Ohio's conference-championship-winning 200 freestyle relay and placed fifth in the 100 backstroke (50.87) and 50 freestyle (20.86).
Shelby said he was pleased with his performances this weekend, where he swam best times in each of his three individual events.
I had a great meet he said. Being my last year it was a nice way to end my collegiate career. Freestyler Donald Jupp, who was a second-team All-MAC selection, finished second in the 50 freestyle, third in the 100 and 12th in the 200, and swam lifetime bests in each event.
He also recorded the fastest 50 freestyle relay split of any competitor in the meet's opening event, the 200 freestyle relay, giving Ohio a come-from behind win to beat Eastern Michigan by .02 seconds. This was Ohio's first conference relay championship since 1991.
Jupp said his teammates were excited about swimming the relay after Eastern Michigan beat them by .10 seconds at last year's championships.
We wanted to win it
he said. Anchoring the relay was the most exciting thing I've done in swimming. Diver Rick Wade set career-high scores in both the 1-and 3-meter springboards, placing second and fourth, respectively.
On the second day of competition, Shelby led the team by winning the 100 butterfly. 14 other Ohio swimmers also scored points.
The Bobcat men also placed fourth and fifth in the 200 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay, respectively.
Werner said performing well in the relays has always been important for the team.
The relays are always something we strive to do well in
he said. Winning the 200 freestyle relay at the beginning of the meet set the tone for the rest of the relays. On the final day of competition, 12 Bobcat men contributed to Ohio's final team score.
The relay team of Jupp, Shelby, Matthew Bey and Jan Wuttig ended the meet by finishing third in the 400 freestyle relay with a season-best time.
Werner said he was pleased with the team's results over the three-day competition.
We had a lot of accomplishments and personal best times
he said.
17
Archives
Julie Goldberg
