Ohio swimmers and divers fall to Ohio State in season opener

by Lindsey Elling

The Ohio swimming and diving team got its season started off, but not how it probably hoped.

Both the women’s team (0-1) and men’s team (0-1) lost dual meets to Ohio State. The men lost to the Buckeyes 144-88 and the women were defeated 130-113.

Individually for the Ohio men, Mike Shelby placed third in the 100-meter freestyle, Jonathan Palmer added a third-place finish in the 500 freestyle and diver Robert Krichbaum placed third in the one-meter dive.

Ohio State’s larger team might have come as a shock to many of the Ohio’s new faces, Palmer said.

“They were a little unconfident at first, but once they noticed they could stick with these guys they picked it up and held their own,” he said.

Ohio swimming and diving coach Greg Werner said he saw an improvement in the men from the intra-squad meet.

“We need to do a better job with pacing, with our speed and with our mental approach to race, though,” he said.

On the women’s side, Shannon Kelly led Ohio with three first-place finishes. Kelly won the 200 individual medley, 200 backstroke and was the first leg in the victorious 400 freestyle relay.

Also adding first place finishes were Trisha Kessler and Emily Frasco.

Winning two of three races, Kessler was first in the 200 breaststroke and was the second leg in the 400 free relay. She also placed second in the 100 free.

Kessler, who came into the season recovering from a knee injury, said she was not as physically prepared as she wanted to be, but was excited to get up and race.

“I’m not satisfied, but it gave me a starting point and I’m very eager to get into the season,” she said. “I know what I need to improve on.”

Frasco won the 50 freestyle and was the fourth leg in the 400 freestyle relay.

“On the women’s side, we had a nice balanced attack,” Werner said. “It was a good effort all the way across.”

Despite the loss, Werner said for the rest of the season he is going to try to create more team unity on both sides of the team and build toward the Mid-American Conference Championships.

“We need better enthusiasm and support of each other,” he said. “We were a little separate on the deck instead of staying together and getting behind each other.”

Ohio looks for its first win against Kenyon at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Aquatic Center.