The Eastern Michigan University women’s swimming and diving team will travel to Akron, Ohio to compete against other Mid-American Conference teams for the conference championship meet. The meet will take place Feb. 23-25.
Eastern (5-5, 2-3 MAC) has been on break from a tough and grueling regular season for almost a full month. The 2011-12 campaign got off with a 151-149 conference loss to Ohio at the home pool. The first win came in the next meet at Bowling Green, with EMU picking up a 171-123 victory.
Oakland won a home dual meet 160-140 and finished first in the EMU Invitational, EMU coming up in second. The Eagles traveled to Cincinnati and won versus Cincinnati and Xavier before losing to Louisville 209-91. EMU returned home to win against Wayne State and Akron. Eastern Michigan closed out the season with losses to Miami at home and Toledo on the road.
One swimmer EMU can rely on for the MAC Championship is junior Briana Emig. Emig has posted top times in the MAC in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle and 400 individual medley events. She is only 20 seconds off from getting the best time in the 200 individual medley category. Emig has qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 400 and 800-meter freestyle events in Omaha, Neb. in June.
Other swimmers that have done well statistically include freshman Jessica Godlewski, who has the fifth-best time in the MAC in the 200 butterfly
event. Just above her is sophomore Jackie Swartz. Freshman Monica Dorszewski is fifth in the MAC in the 200 breaststroke.
The EMU divers have also done well in the regular season. Sophomore Danielle Hulvey posted the MAC’s top score in the one-meter dive (317.10), with junior Kelly Hendricks in second (301.28). Hendricks scored highest in the MAC in the three-meter dive (346.20), with Hulvey finishing second (332.93).
Other swimmers to keep an eye on during the championship meet include Miami junior Bekka Westrick. Westrick scored the top times in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events as well as the 100 butterfly at the Miami Invitational. Her teammate, junior Leah Thornton, may also have a strong performance in the backstroke, having top times in the 100 and 200 events. The Miami team also ranks first in the MAC in the 400 and 800
freestyle relay events and the 200 medley relays.
Eastern Michigan will go for its third conference championship. The Eagles have won the conference title in 2005-06 and 2006-07. All three days feature two sessions, the first at 11 a.m. and the last at 7 p.m.
