Jan. 22, 2011
Complete Results
Contact: Dan Carr
Photo Gallery of the Senior Day Presentation
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Justin Kermack set a school record, Josh Gonzalez swept the diving events with personal best scores and the team's three seniors all turned in big performances as the Viking men's swimming and diving team cruised to a 191-107 win over Wright State on Saturday (Jan. 22), the squad's Senior Day.
"Given where we are in the season, I know this is usually not the weekend that our swimmers have their best times," head coach Wally Morton said. "Today, however, a number of people had some of their best times of the year."
Kermack won the 200 fly in 1:48.65, breaking the old school record in that event of 1:49.12, set by teammate Mark de Swardt. It was the first record broken by a member of the men's team this season. Kermack also won the 100 fly in 50.87.
Gonzalez led the way in the diving events, winning the 3-meter dive with 328.15 points and the 1-meter dive with 303.65 points, with both scores qualifying him for the NCAA Zone Championship cuts.
"Josh wasn't feeling great going into today, but I think that helped him to focus on what he had to do," diving coach Rich Karban said. "He went out and dived the best he ever has."
With the meet being Senior Day for Deni Gasparin, Mike Marsico, and Zvonimir Androic, the three left a lasting impression on the home crowd with each swimming very well.
Gasparin swept the breaststroke events, winning the 100 in 58.48 and the 200 in 2:06.75. He also was a key contributor on the relay teams, helping the 200 medley (1:34.58) and the 400 free squads (3:07.15) to first place finishes.
Marsico was also on the winning 400 free relay unit, anchoring the team as it won the day's final event. He also helped his 200 medley relay team to a second place finish in 1:36.35, with his 20.98 split in the freestyle portion being the fastest split of the day for any relay participant.
"Mike's greatest joys are relays," Morton said. "He steps up his game for them because he knows he is not doing it for himself, but he's doing it for others."
Androic also ended his final home regular season meet on a high note, winning the 200 backstroke in 1:52.74.
For the third straight meet, de Swardt was undefeated on the day, winning the 1,000 free (9:31.47), 500 free (4:37.32) and the 200 IM (1:53.40). de Swardt also went 3-0 in his last two meets, sweeping his events against Notre Dame last Friday (Jan. 14) and Oakland and Xavier last Saturday (Jan. 15).
Two other Vikings picked up individual victories on the day. Alasdair Shillito won the 100 back (52.04) while Berry Thompson took first in the 50 free (20.81).
Cleveland State will now have two weeks to rest and prepare for its next meet, the regular season finale at UIC on Feb. 5. The meet will be the last of the year for both teams and is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. CST.
