DUAL MEET INFORMATION
Cleveland State Men and Women vs. Calvin
Friday, Jan. 10 at 4:00 p.m.
Busbey Natatorium / Cleveland, Ohio

The Starting Block

• This is the first combined dual meet for the Vikings since Magnus Cup ended on Nov. 3.
• The men are 3-0 and the women are 2-2 in dual meets this season.
• This will be the first dual of the second semester for the Green and White.

 
Senior Day

• Cleveland State will recognize Andrew Arslanian, Amanda Paxson, Josh Merchbaker, Paddy Johnston, Holly White, Brooke Eichel, Mackenzie Lipnick, Connor Green, Giovanna Cappabianca, Madison Taker, Reagan St. Clair, Kellsie Krisch, Jackson Nester, Ana Sofia Sousa.

Women's Summary from Magnus Cup

• The women finished fifth at the 12th annual Magnus Cup while setting 18 new top ten times in the record book.
• The records were set by Giovanna Cappabianca (4), Audrey Butcher (3), Grace Chelf (3), Bella Caraballo (3), Eva Smith (2), Mackenzie Lipnick (1), Kayla Brock (1), and Kellsie Krisch (1).

Men's Summary from Magnus Cup

• The Vikings led from start to finish at the 12th annual Magnus Cup, completing the three-day competition with 1,662 points.
• Three meet records were set during the competition with Jackson Nester in the 400-yard IM (3:47.93), Josh Merchbaker in the 100-yard IM (50.62), and the 400-yard freestyle relay of Paddy Johnston, Dogukan Tombul, Daniel Lyngaas, and Connor Green (2:57.34).
• The Green and White won nine events led by Tyler Schultze and Jackson Nester winning three apiece.
• Four top ten swims were put up on the weekend by Paddy Johnston, Aidan Florio, Connor Green, and Alex Cucu.

About Calvin

• This will be the first-ever meeting between these schools.
• The men are ranked ninth and the women 15th in the most recent NCAA Division 3 CSCAA National Poll.
• In dual meets, the men are 3-2 and the women are 4-1 on the year.

 
Get to Know Coach Richardson
Richardson was named the head coach in June becoming the fourth head coach to oversee both the men's and women's swimming & diving programs at Cleveland State. He spent last season as an assistant coach for the Vikings, helping the men finish third and the women place fifth at the Horizon League Championships.

Preseason Rankings

• The men were picked to finish third while the women were slated to come in fourth during the annual Horizon League preseason poll.

 
Nester Looking to go Perfect

• Senior, Jackson Nester will look to win his fourth straight Horizon League Championship in the 400-yard IM. Each year he has topped his previous school record in the event.
• Times: Freshman {3:49.42}, Sophomore {3:48.34}, Junior {3:47.48}

Chelf Going for the Repeat

• Junior, Grace Chelf will look to repeat as the Horizon League Champion in the 50-yard freestyle.
• Last season in finals, she sprinted to the fifth fastest time in school history, 23.17 after putting up the fourth fastest time in prelims, 23.14.

 
Divers Looking to Build Off NCAA Zone Appearance

• Cleveland State sent three divers to Zones this past year, the most in a single season.
• Xander Austin and James Wolf competed in both 1M and 3M.
• Brooke Eichel competed in 1M.
• The three Vikings were all making their first appearances at an NCAA post-season event.

Olympic Trials

• Nester competed at the 2024 U.S. Swimming Olympic Team Trials, swimming in the 200-yard backstroke.
• Nester clocked a time of 2:00.69 in the prelims, finishing 33rd out of 63 swimmers. 
• His 33rd place finish was the highest finish among #HLSD student-athletes.
• Overall, Nester was one of more than 1,000 swimmers who earned a spot at the U.S. Swimming Olympic Team Trials and one of six Horizon League student-athletes competing at the event. 

Up Next
Both teams will head to St. Bonaventure for a dual meet on Friday, January 17 followed by a three-team meet on Saturday in Pittsburgh against George Mason and Duquesne.