UU Swimming Opens Season at Lake Erie

PAINESVILLE, Ohio (October 20, 2012) - The Urbana University swim teams opened the 2012-13 season on the road at Lake Erie College on Saturday night.  The Blue Knight women fell to the Storm by a score of 199-55, but a newcomer took down a pair of long-standing school records.  On the men's side, Urbana dropped their opener 173.5 to 83.5 despite a pair of strong performances by reigning conference champs.

The Blue Knight women did not claim any individual or relay titles, but freshman Jacqueline Rex turned in an impressive debut.  The breaststroke specialist took down a pair of school records in her discipline.  Rex finished 2nd in the 100-yard breaststroke, touching in at four seconds faster than the UU school record, which was set in the same pool two years earlier by Natasha Brophy.  In her next race, Rex brought down Brophy's 2-year old record in the 200-yard breaststroke.  She finished third in the event in a time of 2:45.84. 

In addition to Rex's runner-up finish in the 100-yard breast, the Blue Knights picked up 4 more runner-up finishes on the night.  Breanne Schroeder finished 2nd in 3 races (100, 200 and 500-yard free) and Maggie Carney took 2nd in the 100 fly.

The Blue Knight men picked up wins in a pair of events that they finished conference champs in a season ago.  Sophomore Kim Helander turned in an impressive time in his opening swim in the 100 fly.  Helander had the nation's 15th fastest time in the event a season ago (49.10), and he nearly matched that at Lake Erie.  His time of 50.78 earned the Blue Knights 9 points and their only individual win of the night.  Helander joined teammates Alex Parks, Alex Espinoza and newcomer Eric Eaton on the winning 200-free relay team.  Last year, the threesome of Helander, Parks and Espinoza claimed a conference championship in the event with senior Paul Miller in a conference record 1:25.52.  On Saturday night, 1:32.07 was fast enough to earn a win and add 11 points to Urbana's final tally.  

The only men's record of the night came in the 100-yard backstroke.  Matt Stover bested his old record in a time of 54.89.  He missed out on an individual win by less than half a second.

Next Friday, both squads are back in action at ASC Conference opponent Wheeling Jesuit.  The Cardinals were unanimous picks in the preseason coaches' poll to win the ASC this season.  Friday night's meet begins at 6:00 p.m. [Lake Erie Results]