U Weekly. Serving The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio

Buckeyes to face difficult weekend

By Colin Day

For both men's and women's swimming and diving teams, victory is just another part of their season. In fact, they are becoming so used to winning, the teams are showing no signs of stopping, especially now that the Big Ten Championships are less than a month away.

On the women's side, five straight wins, including a win at the 40-team Chesapeake Energy Elite Pro-Am in Oklahoma City, has the team thinking positive thoughts as they inch closer to their season's end. Beginning back in mid-December, the women faced off against stiff competition in Oklahoma to claim the win. Individual victories were abounding: junior Katelyn Brix won in the 200 individual medley, freshman Emily Creran the 200 backstroke, senior Colleen Schweitzer the 200 breaststroke and freshman Shannon Draves the 50 and 200 fly.

The ladies continued dominance in the following weeks, beating Toledo, Wright State, Michigan State and Michigan in a row. Their latest win, a 162-132 dismantling of the Wolverines, has placed the Buckeyes in top-20 talks because of knocking off the then No. 18 U of M. Junior Sam Cheverton won the 200 freestyle and the 200 backstroke, and senior Katie Bell and junior Bianca Alvarez had no trouble claiming first in diving events, winning the platform with a score of 339 and three meter diving with 376.13 respectively.

The men's team, which has also experienced a very positive season, has only suffered defeat once this season back on Nov. 22, when they came in second at the Purdue Invitational. Since that "loss," the Buckeyes have been undefeated, claiming big wins in the 11-team Ohio State Invitational and against Big Ten rivals No. 25 Indiana.

In their win over Indiana, several Buckeyes have been noticed as some of the best in the conference. Senior diver Ryan Jefferson of Madison, Wisconsin was named Big Ten diver of the week after winning the one meter diving competition with a score of 357.23. Elliot Keefer also had a great day with two individual NCAA "B" times in the 200 yard breaststroke and 100 backstroke, and one with the 200 medley relay team. The Buckeyes also swept the 100 meter freestyle, 500 yard freestyle, 1000 yard freestyle, 100 yard breaststroke, 200 yard breaststroke, 200 yard butterfly, and the 200 yard medley relay to complete their 224-74 win.

Now No. 9 in the nation, the four-meet win streak has given motivation, as the men's team will face their toughest test of the season against Penn State, Northwestern and Michigan this weekend. Currently sitting at No. 7, the 2009 Big Ten Champion Wolverines are the biggest threat to the Buckeye's claim of the 2010 Championship.

Lucky for Ohio State, the men's Big Ten and NCAA Championships will be held in Columbus at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, which can give the Buckeyes the home-pool advantage come February and March. Both women's championships will be held at Purdue.

Next up for the women's team will be Penn State, who is currently unranked, but came in fourth in the six-team women's Ohio State Invitational. PSU swimmer Amy Modglin, last week's Big Ten and national swimmer of the week, would like nothing more than to knock the Buckeyes off their hopes at being ranked for the first time this year.

Friday's meet begins at 6 p.m. and Saturday's starts at noon at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, with both meets running simultaneously.

Originally Published: January 27, 2010

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