Youngstown State University
Horizon League Championship
Dow Rises to the Occasion to Win Horizon League Title
2/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Brown Deer, Wis. — Freshman Ashley Dow (Houston, Texas) swam her way to a Conference Championship and became a league and school-record holder in the process at the Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday at the Schroeder Aquatic Center. Dow is the first Penguins swimming event Horizon League champion since 2004.
Dow finished first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.83 seconds. Dow's time also earned her a new school record and was a NCAA B cut qualifying time. The last, and until Friday night, only Penguin to finish first at the league meet was Erin Carter in the 400 IM in 2004.
Earlier in the night, Dow took 16th place in the 100 fly with a time of 1:00.92. In the same event, sophomore Laura Paz finished in 11th clocking a time of 1:56.47
Senior Kirstin Walker placed 12th and set a new school record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:53.44. Also, Senior Audria Grubbs took 16th with a time of 1:56.47.
Junior Samantha Roberts took seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.71) and 11th in the 400-yard IM (4:36.36). Sophomore Megan Ciampa finished in 10th swimming her way to her career-best time of 4:35.41 in the 400 IM.
Capping off the evening, YSU's 800-yard freestyle relay team was sixth with a time of 7:46.10.
In the team standings, the Penguins have 229 points to rank sixth. In first place is Milwaukee at 509.5 just ahead of Cleveland State which has 504.5 points. The Penguins trail fifth place Wright State by 30.5 points.
The final day of action is tomorrow. Events on tap include three-meter diving, 1,650-yard freestyle, 100-yard free, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly and the final event the 400-yard freestyle. YSU's Casey Hill is the defending champ in the three-meter dive and Dow will be going for the backstroke sweep in the 200.
