Spartans Defeat In-State Opponent Oakland

Results

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Back home for the first time of the new year, the Spartans defeated in-state opponent Oakland University on Saturday afternoon. The men won 165-135 and the women, in a close meet, were victorious 151-149.

"Oakland has a really good team and they race really well," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "Our women raced really hard especially Emma Inch. She did a great job and Abbey Neveling at the end in the IM was just fantastic. On the men's side, Aidan Farley was a superstar winning four events. Payton Woods I thought did a great job. Jonathan Lee toughed it out in the 200 breast and Michael Schwers has also been consistent for us. Our divers also had an outstanding day."

Freshman Emma Inch and junior Aidan Farley lead the way for the Spartans. Both tallied three individual victories in their respective events.

Inch took home wins in the 500 freestyle, (5:00.85), 1000 freestyle, (10:10.40) and 200 butterfly, (2:03.46). Farley finished in first place in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle with times of 44.80, 1:37.55 and 4:31.19, respectively.

Coming out strong was the men's 200 medley relay team of Brett Spires, Travis Nitkiewicz, Michael Schwers and Payton Woods, who took first place with a time of 1:30.36. Woods split time of 19.51 pulled the Spartans into the lead on the final leg.

In the 100 breaststroke, junior Erin Szara claims her eighth victory of the season swimming a time of 1:03.11. Freshman Kasey Venn followed in third place with a time of 1:04.27.

Schwers clocked a time of 1:49.18 in the 200 butterfly for his second-consecutive win in this event.

Woods claimed his sixth victory of the season in the 50 freestyle. He finished with a time of 20.60.

In a close heat, sophomore Jonathan Lee came away with the win in the 200 breaststroke, (2:03.77), for his third of the season.

For her second 200 IM win of the year, junior Abbey Neveling clocked in a time of 2:04.05.

Closing out the evening, the men's 400 freestyle relay team of Farley, Nehemiah Mork, Woods and Kevin Mills captured the win, touching the pad at 3:00.83.

On the diving boards for the men, sophomore Ari Wolfson took first in the 1-meter with a score of 287.93 while sophomore Jakob Heberling won on the 3-meter board (317.40).

For women's diving, junior Amanda Ling took first in both the 1-meter and 3-meter with scores of 275.32 and 316.80, respectively. Junior Erin Neely finished second (271.65) and redshirt-senior Julia Oppedisano took third (258.89) in the 1-meter.

"We competed better than we did last week so we're moving forward and progressing forward, so we'll see how next week goes," added Gianiodis.

The Spartans return home next Friday, Jan. 24 as they host Cleveland State. The meet will begin at 5 p.m. in McCaffree Pool.

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Players Mentioned

Aidan Farley

Jakob Heberling

Emma Inch

Jonathan Lee

Amanda Ling

Kevin Mills

Nehemiah Mork

Erin Neely

Abbey Neveling

Travis Nitkiewicz

Julia Oppedisano

Michael Schwers

Brett Spires

Erin Szara

Kasey Venn

Ari Wolfson

Payton Woods