The Eastern Michigan University men’s swimming and diving team won its 30th Mid-American Conference title Friday in Ohio.
Under Coach Peter Linn, the Eagles have won 22 championships. EMU won by scoring 695 points, followed by Buffalo (674.5), Southern Illinois (596), Missouri State (558), Miami (472), Ball State (229) and Evansville (98).
EMU had seven athletes who were named to ALL-MAC teams. Earning first team honors were Troy Esentan,
Jacob Hanson, Jeffrey Craig, Franco Petrone and Andrew Saunders. Earning second team honors were Michael Swain, Brian Moore and Mike Fisher.
The Eagles were well represented on individual awards too. Jeffrey Craig was named Most Outstanding Diver and Jacob Hanson was named Most Outstanding Swimmer for the second year in a row.
EMU’s diving coach Buck Smith was named Men’s Diving Coach of The Year.
EMU was off to a good start early on by winning many events the first day of competition, including a first-place finish from Hanson in the 200-yard individual medley (1:46.82). Craig earned a first place finish, as well, winning the 1-meter dive (365.20).
Hanson, Esentan, Michael Kinross, and Gus Everson placed second in the 400 individual medley relay.
After the second day, EMU was still sitting in first place. Esentan won the 400 individual medley (3:53.14) and Swain placed second (3:56.13). Craig and Saunders placed second and third in the 3-meter dive.
The meet was continued on Saturday due to bad weather, but EMU was able to regain focus and capture the title.
Winning events on the final day for the Eagles were Hanson in the 200 backstroke (1:43.03), Esentan in the 200 breaststroke (1:58.23) while Fisher placed a close second in that event (1:58.27).
Saunders earned his first MAC individual title on the 3-meter dive (391.45) and Craig placed third in the event (382.10).
EMU has won 11 out of the last 13 Championships, and the win of its 30th conference championship is a conference record.
