The Bobcats started the season right where they left off: with a bang.
Ohio defeated Bowling Green 168-121 and the Eastern Michigan Eagles 151-149 in the first meets of the year.
Three Bobcats made their marks in the record book Friday. Freshmen Tori Bagan, Morgan Srail and Haleigh Bartlett turned in top-10 times for the 100-yard breaststroke, 1-meter diving and 3-meter diving events. Bagan’s time in the breaststroke ranks fifth in program history. Srail’s 1-meter diving time was good for 10th, and Bartlett’s diving score puts her ninth in the Bobcats’ record book. Srail qualified for the 2012 NCAA Diving Zones with her scores.
Coach Greg Werner was pleased with the freshmen stepping up.
“I was very excited to see how they performed all across the board,” he said. “I thought all the freshmen made a significant impact. They all made a difference, that’s what we ask of everyone.”
Ohio set the tone of the competition early, winning the first five events.
On Saturday however, the result was much closer, as Ohio edged Eastern Michigan by two points.
“Eastern Michigan we knew was going to be very, very tough. The way that they stack up against us, their strengths are very similar to our strengths,” Werner said.
Eastern Michigan was leading after 15 of the 16 events and held a 147-136 advantage, but Ohio responded in its last chance. The Bobcats took first and second place in the 400-meter freestyle relay to pick up 15 points and win.
Ohio has started its season 2-0 twice in the last three seasons.
Werner said there is still need for improvement before Buffalo comes to Athens Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot of things we need to work on,” he said. “Hopefully, we see some improvement between now and next weekend in our meet against Buffalo, because Buffalo is very talented and we’re going to have to be better than we were this weekend if we want to win at home.”
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