Jan. 17, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio swimming and diving team welcomes Mid-American Conference foe Eastern Michigan to the Aquatic Center this Friday for its first conference dual meet in over two months. The meet marks Ohio's third straight at home, after the Bobcats easily handled visiting Denison and Youngstown State last week.

This week at the Aquatic Center
Friday, Jan. 18 - Ohio vs. Eastern Michigan @ 4 p.m.

Ohio enters the meet with an overall record of 7-1 and a MAC mark of 3-1. Ohio and Eastern Michigan each boast conference records of 3-1, with the only loss for both coming against Toledo. Ohio fell to Toledo 184-116 (Nov. 10) and Eastern Michigan dropped its meet with Toledo 181-119 (Nov. 3).

Last week Ohio defeated Denison, 136-105, and downed Youngstown State, 134-87, to remain a perfect 4-0 at home this season. The Bobcats got out to quick starts in each meet, winning nine of the first 11 events against Denison and taking the first 10 events from Youngstown State.

Ohio sophomore Chelsey Bower (Bethel Park, Pa.) won five events in five attempts, setting a season-best and lifetime best, to lead the Bobcats to the victories. Bower touched the wall first in the 50-yard freestyle with a new season-best time of 24.43 on Friday, and then almost set a new mark on Saturday, touching the wall first in the 50 free with a time of 24.44. Bower established a new lifetime best in the 500-yard freestyle against Youngstown State, placing first with a time of 5:10.36. Along with her three individual wins, Bower also was part of two first place relay teams against Denison.

Freshman Rachel Heim (San Diego, Calif.) competed in four events last weekend for the Bobcats, finishing with three second-place finishes and one first place. Heim won the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.11) against Denison and placed second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:13.13) against Youngstown State. Heim also swam the opening leg of Ohio's second place 200-yard medley relay team and the anchor leg of the second place 400-yard medley relay team.

Scouting Eastern Michigan
Overall record: 6-1
MAC record: 3-1
Head Coach: Peter Linn (EMU '74)

Last Time Out
Eastern Michigan defeated Oakland University, 193-107, at home in Jones Natatorium to improve to 6-1 on the season. Senior Madeleine Pilchard paced the Eagles with three individual victories, placing first in the 50-yard freestyle (23.83), 200-yard freestyle (1:52.33) and the 500-yard freestyle (4:58.90). EMU's 200-yard medley relay team started the night off with a victory (1:48.05), while the 400-yard freestyle relay team closed out the meet with a win (3:29.98).

Ohio vs. Eastern Michigan
Order of Events
400-yard Medley Relay
1000-yard freestyle
200-yard Freestyle
100-yard Backstroke
100-yard Breaststroke
200-yard Butterfly
50-yard Freestyle
1-Meter Dive
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Backstroke
200-yard Breaststroke
500-yard Freestyle
100-yard Butterfly
3-Meter Dive
200-yard Individual Medley
200-yard Freestyle Relay

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Wes Liles is the swimming and diving contact in the Ohio media relations office. He can be reached via email at liles@ohio.edu.