Miami University
MAC Championships
RedHawks Complete Three-Peat, Win 14th MAC Title
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 28, 2004
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University's women's swimming & diving team won its unprecedented 14th Mid-American Conference Championship, and third straight, thanks to a strong third-day performance. The RedHawks entered the night with a healthy 155-point lead over second-place Ohio, before ending the meet with a 117-point margin of victory over the Bobcats.
Leading Miami on day three was senior Amy Miranda (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy), who won the fourth 1650 freestyle of her career in the night's opening event. After winning her third-straight 500 free title on Thursday night, the Kentucky native topped the field in the 1650 with a time of 16:38.19. Sophomore Katie Forster (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) took third in the event in 16:54.23, while junior Julie Madden (Canton, Ohio/Hawken) took seventh.
The RedHawks also posted a second-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of juniors Christel Frantz (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake) and Andrea Hocevar (Richmond Heights, Ohio/Hawken School), sophomore Katie Unger (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) and redshirt freshman Maggi Bulla (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline) completed the distance in 3:27.54, just 0.64 seconds back of first-place Ohio.
The Red and White led the meet following the second event on day one and never relented. Miami ended day one with a 65-point lead, extended it to 155 points after day two, before the final tally on day three. Second to the RedHawks' 664 points was Ohio (547 points), followed by Bowling Green (405) in third, Ball State in fourth (400.50) and Akron (388.50) in fifth. The field was rounded out by Eastern Michigan, Buffalo, Toledo and Marshall, respectively.
Among the award winners for the MAC Champions were first-team all-MAC honorees Miranda and Bulla, joined by sophomore Laura Armbruster (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) and freshman Ashley Seymour (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier). The second team featured Unger, Forster and junior Trisha Lamb (Oregon, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy). Miranda and Armbruster combined for three individual MAC crowns, while Bulla set a school record in the 200 free and Seymour performed consistantly well in each of her events as a freshman. (For a complete list of award winners, see below)
Among the remaining day-three point scorers for the RedHawks was Seymour, Unger and freshman Ashley Petak (North Potomoac, Md./Quince Orchard) in the 200 breaststroke. Seymour took fifth with a time of 2:20.49, while Unger won the consolation heat (ninth place- 2:20.93) and Petak took 10th. The 100 free and 200 butterfly events also featured a trio of scorers apience. Frantz took seventh, Hocevar took 12th and freshman Diana Zeleznikar (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River) finished 13th. Junior Cortney Dice (Pittsburgh, Pa./Hampton) led the way in the 200 fly with a 10th-place finish, while junior Michelle Reynolds (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) finished 11th and freshman Darcy Meek took 15th (Wilton, Conn./Wilton).
The MAC Championships marked the end of the team season for Miami, while a few RedHawks may see their seasons continue with NCAA berths. The NCAA Championships take place March 20-22 in College Station, Texas. Miranda and sophomore diver Christin Eberst (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) qualified for last year's meet.
All-MAC First Team
Amy Miranda, Miami
Shannon Kelly, Ohio
Samantha Pfaller, Ohio
Anca Tilea, Eastern Michigan
Jennefer Brankovsky, Buffalo
Milla Kuurto, Marshall
Becky McGaughey, Ohio
Laura Armbruster, Miami
Sarah Agnew, Bowling Green
Heather Rennebohm, Ohio
Danielle Beland, Akron
Maggi Bulla, Miami
Courtney Gould, Ohio
Megan Walters, Akron
Ashley Seymour, Miami
All-MAC Second Team
Erika Nilsson, Marshall
Kait Martin, Ball State
Katie Forster, Miami
Katie Unger, Miami
Emily Aubie, Ball State
Amanda Smith, Ohio
Trisha Lamb, Miami
Melissa Dunn, Ohio
Brenda Norris, Akron
Most Outstanding Diver
Anca Tilea, Eastern Michigan
Diving Coach of the Year
Buck Smith, Eastern Michigan
Most Outstanding Swimmer
Milla Kuurto, Marshall
Swimming Coach of the Year
Laura Siebold-Caudill, Ball State
Final Standings
1. Miami - 664 2. Ohio - 547 3. Bowling Green - 405 4. Ball State - 400.5 5. Akron - 388.5 6. Eastern Michigan - 335 7. Buffalo - 331 8. Toledo - 251 9. Marshall - 237
Players Mentioned
