2023 G-MAC/MEC Championships
- 7-10 February 2023
- Canton, Ohio
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: Findlay Athletics
Champions once again, and in a way that can only be described in one word: dominance.
For the first time since 2019 and the third time since joining the conference in 2017, the University of Findlay men's and women's swimming and diving teams can both call themselves Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) champions.
Competition at the G-MAC / MEC (Mountain East Conference) swimming and diving championships concluded Friday, February 10 at the CT Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio. After four days in the pool, the Oilers showed why they are the standard in the conference when it comes to the sport of swimming and diving.
In total, there were 42 events that awarded championship medals, 21 on the men's and women's sides. How did Findlay do in those 42 events? They won 32 of them. The men were perfect in the swimming events, winning all 19 and finishing runners-up in the two diving events. The women won 13 of the 19 swimming events and had no diver compete.
For the men, ranked seventh in the nation in the latest poll, it's their sixth straight G-MAC championship title, the longest streak of conference championships by any school in any sport in Great Midwest history. Dynamic runs like this are often avoided in sport. Viewers often get tired of seeing the same winner year in and year out. That doesn't bother this team that managed to make the win jump into the deep end after another title.
For the Findlay women, currently ranked 19thu in the country, it is redemption and rectification. The past three years have seen Hillsdale College climb to the top of the podium after the Oilers won in 2018 and 2019, but in 2023, Findlay left no doubt, bringing the trophy back to Northwest Ohio after punishing their conference rival . A third G-MAC championship in six years.
On top of the team material, the Oilers also collected the most individual honors.
Quotes from Coach Makepeace
Winning trophies and bringing home hardware is always fun. It's a testament to our program and the success they have is a result of their work on a week-to-week basis. Without all the student-athletes and what they have put into themselves, we would not be in this position. I am lucky to coach a great group, which will now have its name written in history.
Complacency can be difficult because when you have a men's program that can compete with most of the top teams in the country, coming into a meet where we know we're going to have a lot of athletes in the eight for most of the week, it would be easy to relax. . But we talk about it throughout the year so they understand what their job and responsibilities are. They fight hard in practice to be able to perform in meets and that plays a big part in our success.
For the women, not winning the championship for a while has been something that our women's roster has been set on for the better part of three calendar years and now the culmination of all their dedication and hard work has come together and made for a great week together . We are excited to lift the trophy again and prove that our team is the top team in the G-MAC.
Men's Coach of the Year – Andrew Makepeace
Swimmer of the Men's Meet – Camilo Marugo
Freshman Men's Meet – Matteo Filippi
Freshman Women's Meeting – Emily Mears-Bedley
Women's Elite 26 Winner – Mil Berg
Friday's All-G-MAC Performances
Men
- He won his third event title of the week he was a freshman Matteo Filippi who won gold in the 1650 freestyle, finishing the event in 15:42.77, good for an NCAA B cut. He is the first 1650 event champion for Findlay since Ben Rath won it in 2018.
-
- Rafael Lozano (So.) placed third in the event and earned second team all-conference honors with a time of 16:23.92.
- The 100 free also belonged to the Oilers as a sophomore Angel Margaritov took first with 45.70.
-
- Earning second team all-conference as a junior Adam Hornak who took third place with a time of 46.06.
- Randy Keener III won the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:46.91, an NCAA B cut and a new school record and meet. That time is tied for 14u in the Second Division this season.
-
- He was a sophomore in third place in the event Tyler Thomas who touched in a time of 1:53.44 to claim second-team all-conference honors.
- He took first in the 200 breaststroke as a junior Daniel Garcia who set a new meet and pool record with a 1:57.11 swim. He has now won this event in three consecutive seasons at this meeting.
-
- Earning third team all-conference in the event was a senior Brandon Moran who finished fourth, bettering his qualifying time by nearly five full seconds with a time of 2:04.43.
- As they did all week, Findlay finished the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay. Margaritov, Garcia, Hornak and junior Evan Patterson they won in a close race, winning with a time of 3:04.23.
women
- Earning second-team all-G-MAC honors in the 1650 freestyle as a sophomore Abby Kmet who finished fourth in the event with a time of 17:50.28, a new lifetime best.
-
- Taking fifth place and earning third team honors is superior Taylor Christensen who touched the wall in a time of 18:01.78.
- It was absolute dominance in the 100 free, as Findlay had six of the top eight finishers in the event, including a top-five finish. This team was driven by the freshman phenomenon Emily Mears-Bedley who won her sixth event title of the week, claiming first with a time of 51.06, an NCAA B cut and a new meet record.
-
- Freshman Faith Marcicek was right behind, finishing second and earning all-conference honors with a time of 52.41.
- Winning all conference third team is a freshman Troye Grubbs which he touched in a time of 52.48.
- The winner of Findlay's Elite 26, which honors the top GPA in the conference, proved to be a standout on the water as well. Mil Berg flew in the 200 backstroke finals to claim first place with a time of 2:03.29.
-
- Sophomore teammate Sasha Melnik was runner-up, earning all-conference status with a time of 2:03.71.
- Freshman Katie Sushi won gold in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:20.15.
- The 400 free relay paid off the week and once again it was an Oilers win. Mears-Bentley, Sydney Jones (So), Grubbs and Marcicek teamed up to take the win in 3:27.93, a new meet record.
Team scores
Men
1. University of Findlay 1966 – 2023 Great Midwest Team Champion
2. Ashland University 1121
3. Frostburg State University 1088.5
4. Fairmont State University 897.5
5. Notre Dame College 772
6. Davis & Elkins College 641
7. Malone University 412
8. West Virginia Wesleyan College 160
9. Wheeling University 67
women
1. University of Findlay 1889.5 – 2023 Great Midwest Team Champion
2. Hillsdale College 1589
3. Ashland University 886.5
4. Frostburg State University 778
5. Notre Dame College 570
6. Wheeling University 509
7. Davis & Elkins College 506
8. Fairmont State University 430
9. West Virginia Wesleyan College 258
10. Malone University 190
