INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Vikings placed fifth at the four-day 2023 Horizon League Championships.
"This is the best TEAM I have had the honor to coach," said head coach Hannah Burandt. "We are a small and mighty squad that showed up with full heart and grit. We had moments where we shined and when we didn't our support outshined everything else. I cannot thank our seniors enough: they have left this program better than where we found it when they were freshmen. Our future success is because of them. When we had the team crying because it was a seniors last race, that's something beautiful and a strength that is unique to us."
Cleveland State started the final day with a seventh and eighth-place finish in the 1650-yard freestyle by Mackenzie Lipnick (17:26.53) and Olivia Leonard (17:29.85). Both times were CSCAA B-cut times.
In the 200-yard backstroke, Caroline Hughes touched the wall in 2:09.62, placing her in 14th.
Ana Sofia Sousa was the runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle after clocking the third-fastest time in program history, 50.56. Sousa's time was a CSCAA B-cut. Grace Chelf came in seventh with a time of 51.50.
The 200-yard breaststroke saw Grace Butcher come in 13th after touching the wall in 2:25.49.
Ellie Mckibbin (2:03.55) and Madison Taker (2:04.53) recorded CSCAA B-cut times to come in fourth and fifth during the 200-yard butterfly.
The Vikings capped off the championship with a fourth-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle as Sousa, Rachel Contich, Holly White, and Chelf registered a time of 3:28.26.
Team Standings
1. Oakland – 983
2. IUPUI – 636.5
3. Milwaukee – 606.5
4. Youngstown State – 431
5. Cleveland State – 382
6. Green Bay – 210
