The AU swimming and diving team wrapped up the 2014 NCAA Championships on Saturday, March 15.  The weeklong competition which officially opened Wednesday, March 12^th saw ten AU men and women competing.  This competition is the culmination of countless athletes’ time, energy, and effort.  For such a small school, Ashland put up quite a fight.  The men finished 18th and the women 20th in a field of approximately 200 schools.  That’s quite an accomplishment, especially considering only five men and five women attended the meet.

“It’s nice to be able to go and represent Ashland and represent the people who weren’t able to make it. It’s nice to go and represent the program that they are in.”, said Senior Sara Reidler.

  The AU men and women took home countless all-American awards. All- American means an individual place in the top eight. There are also honorary All-American awards meaning the individual placed in the top sixteen. To be exact, Ashland University Swimming and Diving earned six All-American honors and eleven more honorary All-American honors. Freshman Philipp Sikatzki and sophomore Hannah Mattar lead the charge for AU. Mattar brought back four individual All-American awards and one as part of a relay.  Sikatzki brought home three individual All-Americans and three more as a member of relay teams.  

Mattar earned all-American in the 400 IM with a time of 4:20.94, placing 6th.  She completed the 200 IM in 8with 2:06.39, an All-American time.  Matter also earned All- American in the 200 breaststroke with a 3^rd place time of 2:13.04.  Her honorary All-American award came in the 200 butterfly.  

Mattar said, “Making those all Americans means you’re one of the top swimmers in the country for Division 2 which is a big accomplishment.”

For Sikatzki, his All-American accomplishments came in the 100 butterfly and the 100 back stroke.  His times for those were 47.87 and 47.92 respectfully. Sikatzki earned honorary All-American in the 200 back stroke with a time of 1:47.58. 

The swimmers of Ashland University were insistent upon the fact that for as much as swimming is an individual sport competing at nationals is a team accomplishment. 

Senior Sara Reidler said, “Nationals is a way to represent the other swimmers in your event.”

Reidler represented her teammates in a few events at nationals. Reidler was 14th in the 100 backstroke, she hit the touchpads in 56.57. Reidler was also a member of three relay races. She, Hannah Mattar, Gabriela Verdugo-Arzaluz and Kaylyn Murphy were part of the 400 medley relay that was 11th in 3:47.16. The 200 free relay was 13th in 1:35.69.  Kaylyn Murphy, Anna Evans, Verdugo-Arzaluz and Reidler were in that race. The women’s 400 free relay placed 15th with a time of 3:27.56. Gabriela Verdugo-Arzaluz, Anna Evans, Kaylyn Murphy, and Reidler turned in that performance.

Senior Alex Sheil spoke to the competitive nature at nationals. He said, “The difference between getting 16 and 15 is only one point but the amount of effort and strategy that goes into getting that one point is extravagant. All to be higher in that team standing.”

The Eagle men and women did everything they could in order to be higher in the team standing. Sergio Sanchis Peris was 16th in the men’s 50 freestyle with a time of 20.70. The men’s 200 medley relay turned in a 7place finish, the men’s 400 free relay was 15, and the men’s 200 free relay placed 16. A combination of Sikatzki, Peris, Hueston Holder, Sheil, and Greg Walters teamed up to turn in these efforts. 

“It is a huge accomplishment for us to be able to be that high,” said Alex Sheil of his team’s performance. The Eagles wrapped up another successful year and wait to test themselves again.