Ohio (3-0 Mid-American Conference) faced off against Bowling Green (2-1 MAC) Friday. The Bobcats were able to dominate Bowling Green, taking home a 244-56 win, winning all 16 events and claiming 43 of 48 podium spots.
It was Ohio’s final home meet of the meet season and its Senior Day. Seven seniors contributed significantly to the Bobcats’ win.
Cassie DiBetta took home wins in both of her individual events, the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, and was also part of the winning 200-yard medley relay, alongside Lily Baumgartner, the all-American Zita Szoke and Tori Wittenberg.
Emily Ellsworth was huge Friday as well, finishing second to DiBetta in both of the breaststroke events, as well as finishing second in the 100-yard IM and 200-yard medley relay alongside fellow seniors Allie Schrank, Jordan Claypoole and Katie Buroker.
Schrank finished fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and third in the 100-yard butterfly. Schrank competed in the 200-yard freestyle relay with fellow seniors Peyton Binns, Anna McGrath and Morgan Brown, where they finished fourth. McGrath took home a win in the 500-yard freestyle and a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle. Brown finished third in the 100-yard IM.
One Bobcats’ senior diver, Stephanie Balthaser, placed fourth and seventh, respectively, in the 1- and 3-meter diving.
The non-seniors also played a considerable role in the Bobcats’ big win. Astrid Pichardo won 3-meter diving and finished runner-up in 1-meter diving to Bella Basford, who finished fourth in 3-meter.
Szoke continued her dominance, winning all four of her events as she took home wins in the 200-yard medley relay, 50- and 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle relay alongside Tori Wittenberg, Jordan Claypoole and Katie Buroker.
Wittenberg finished in second behind Szoke in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle. Claypoole finished first in the 100-yard butterfly and third in the 50-yard freestyle. Buroker finished third in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle.
Ashley Sallows won the 1000-yard freestyle, Katrina Kollin won the 200-yard freestyle, Jana Macik won the 200-yard butterfly, Lily Baumgartner won the 100-yard butterfly, Juliana Slaninka won the 200-yard backstroke and Juliette Daigneault won the 100-yard IM.
While it was senior day, the plethora of swimmers that weren’t celebrated played a huge role in getting the dominant win over the Falcons in the home water.
With just one regular season meet remaining, Ohio sits at 4-0, including wins against MAC opponents Buffalo, Ball State and now Bowling Green. The wins are notable as they suggest the Bobcats will perform strongly at the upcoming MAC Championship and potentially claim their first MAC title since 2011.
The Bobcats will travel to Akron to face the reigning MAC champion Zips in a dual meet on Jan. 30 and 31. This meet will be their final regular season competition before the MAC Championship, Feb. 25-28.
