West Chester Men and Women Sweep PSAC Swimming Titles
Feb. 25, 2007
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - After jumping out to huge leads following the first three days of the 2007 PSAC Swimming Championships held at Cumberland Valley High School Natatorium, the West Chester men's and women's swimming teams were able to enjoy their championship coronation on Sunday as the Golden Ram men and women swept both conference titles for the fifth time in school history, all in the last seven years.
For the West Chester women, the team turned in a dominating performance with 810 points to capture its fifth championship since 2001 as the Golden Rams won 15 of the 19 contested events during the week. Clarion, who has won a total of 26 women's championships, finished second with 562 points.
On the strength of a sixth-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay, Indiana (Pa.) held off Shippensburg for fourth-place with 381 points compared to 377 for the Lady Raiders. Bloomsburg was fifth with 338 points.
On the men's side, West Chester won its ninth consecutive championship and 20th overall with a four-day total of 907.5 points, 222.5 ahead of second-place Clarion who has won a total of 19 men's championships. Shippensburg finished in third for the second-straight year with a total of 622 points while Kutztown and Edinboro were separated by just two points for fourth and fifth, respectively.
West Chester freshman Jackie Borkowski and senior Bart Ostrowski were each named Swimmers of the Meet as the two combined to win a total of 12 events. Borkowski took first-place in seven events, including three as an individual in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle.
Borkowski posted an NCAA A cut time both the 50 and 100 free while setting a new all-time PSAC record of 57.19 seconds in the 100 back. She was also a member of the 200-yard medley and 200, 400 and 800-yard freestyle relay teams that placed first. In the 200 medley relay, the Golden Rams' NCAA A cut time set a new championship meet record of 1:46.61.
Ostrowski, who won a total of four conference titles this week, was the only male swimmer to win three as an individual with victories in the 200-yard IM, 200-yard freestyle and 100 free. He also was a member of the 400 free relay team that posted an NCAA A cut time.
West Chester senior Kathrin Dumitru also had a stellar week as she, like Borkowski, also won seven conference championships, three as an individual and four as a member of relay teams. Individually, Dumitru posted NCAA A cut times and set new meet records in winning the 200 IM, 100 and 200-yard breaststroke.
As a member of the 200 and 400 free and 200 and 400 medley relay teams, Dumitru was also a part of four more NCAA A cut times while the 200 medley relay team set a new championship meet record of 1:46.61.
Dumitru also set what would have been a new meet record in a 100-yard butterfly time trial with an NCAA A cut time of 54.76 seconds to qualify for nationals.
Sophomore Katie Brosseau was also a three-time individual winner for the Golden Rams this week.
On Sunday night, West Chester won four of the six contested women's events with Bloomsburg senior Ashley Yelinek winning the 1,650-yard freestyle and Clarion junior Lori Leitzinger taking first in the 200-yard backstroke.
Borkowski and Dumitru finished off their weeks with victories in the 100 free and 200 breast before combining up to form the leadoff and anchor leg of the Golden Rams' 400 free relay championship team.
As for the men, West Chester won five of the six contested events, highlighted by junior Devin Canfield who won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:51.59 to set a new championship meet record. Ostrowski then followed with his third individual title by taking first in the 100 free.
Clarion freshman Rich Eckert was the lone non-Golden Ram to win Sunday night as he captured the 200 back title in 2:08.74, nearly three seconds faster than his previous season-best.
All totaled this weekend, there were six new championship meet records set, three by the women and three by the men, and one new PSAC record. The new women's meet records were set in the 200-yard medley relay, 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke.
The lone all-time PSAC record broken was in the women's 100-yard backstroke.
The men set new standards in the 1,000-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard backstroke.
The 2008 PSAC Swimming Championships will once again be held at Cumberland Valley High School Natatorium from February 20-23. Meanwhile, the 2007 NCAA Division II Swimming Championships will take place March 14-17 at the Flickinger Center in Buffalo, New York with hosts Erie Community College and Edinboro.
- PSAC Swimming -
