Jan. 11, 2003
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Victories in eight of nine individual swimming events helped lead the the Northwestern women's swimming and diving team to a 142-99 victory over Eastern Michigan Saturday afternoon. The victory improves the Wildcats' dual meet record to 5-3 on the season.
Carmen Cosgrove (Perth, Australia) and Erica Rose (Cleveland, Ohio/Hawken School) led the way for NU with two first-place finishes apiece. Cosgrove captured titles in the 50 freestyle (24.56) and the 200 butterfly (2:03.69). Meanwhile, Rose won both the distance freestyle events, placing first in both the 500 (5:01.04) and the 1000 (10:16.73).
Northwestern also got top finishes from Katie Paglini (Chicago, Ill./Latin School) in the 200 backstroke (2:03.91), Sara Petric (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) in the 100 free (52.72), Erin Swenson (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) in the 200 individual medley (2:07.52) and Vicky West (Redlands, Calif./Redlands) in the 200 free (1:53.73).
Ashley Carter (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy) contributed a score of 290.70 on the 1-meter diving board to add another title for the Wildcats.
On the men's side, Northwestern won six of the 13 events, but it wasn't enough as the Eagles posted a 133-108 victory. The loss drops the Wildcats' dual meet record to 2-6.
The difference was three separate races in which NU swimmers earned runner-up finishes to Eastern Michigan individuals by less than two-tenths of a second.
Kellan O'Connor (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Preparatory) narrowly missed out on earning an NCAA "B" Cut time in the 200 butterfly. His winning time of 1:48.88 missed qualifying standards by just over two-tenths of a second. O'Connor has already earned a "B" Cut time in the event.
Northwestern also got first-place finishes from Louis Torres (Morton Grove, Ill./Niles West) in the 200 breast (2:06.10), Mark Hamming (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) in the 200 free (1:41.32), Tony Swanson (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) in the 200 back (1:49.22) and Chris Biedrzycki (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) in the 400 IM (4:00.83).
Diver Mike Oxman (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) added a top finish on the 1-meter diving board with a score of 304.87.
The Wildcat men return to action at 6 p.m. Friday when they host Illinois-Chicago at the Norris Aquatics Center. The women return to the pool at 10 a.m. the following day when they host Tennessee.