2023-24 Women’s Swimming and Diving Season in Review
4/9/2024 12:00:00 PM | Swimming and Diving
Among many other memorable moments, the Youngstown State women's swimming and diving program's 2023-24 campaign was highlighted by a school record 474 points at the Horizon League Championships, Miriam Frass becoming the first YSU woman since 2013 to be crowned a Horizon League Champion, and the 800 free relay's qualification for the National Invitational Championship.
Horizon League Championship Highlights
- The Penguins earned the most points in school history with 474 and matched the program's best finish, placing fourth in team standings.
- With a victory in the 400 IM, Miriam Frass became the first YSU women's swimmer to become a Horizon League Champion since 2013 and is just the third in program history. Miriam clocked a 4:21.37 in the event to shatter the school record and finish ahead of the runner-up by over three seconds. Frass also finished runner-up in the 500 free for the second-straight year. She clocked an impressive time of 4:54.13 in the race.
- Chiara Vetter finished runner-up in the 100 breast with a time of 1:03.60 to become just the second YSU woman to finish runner-up since 2018. Freshman Eloise Fisher finished fourth in the event, just missing the podium with a time of 1:04.84.
- The women's 800 free relay team of Miriam Frass, Madelyn Mahoney, Brooke Schuette, and Hailey Clark set the first school record relay mark since 2016. The impressive quartet clocked a time of 7:26.75 to finish third and earn a spot on the podium.
- The Penguins showed their distance strength with three placing in the top five of the women's 1650 free. Miriam Frass clocked a 16:56.27 to place second in the event for the second straight year to earn her third top-two finish of the meet. In addition to Frass' runner-up performance, Hailey Clark picked up the first podium finish of her career, placing third with a time of 16:59.35. Brooke Schuette finished fifth, clocking a 17:14.90.
- The women's 400 medley team of Anna Kozinska, Vetter, Allison Ramirez Romero, and Frass delivered the second women's relay podium finish of the league meet. The impressive squad clocked a 3:49.54 in the event to finish third.
- The women's 200 free relay team of Madelyn Mahoney, Oliwia Kaniak, Chiara Vetter, and Miriam Frass tied the school record with a time of 1:35.09, matching the record from 2015.
- Oliwia Kaniak swam the fourth-fastest 200 breast time in program history, clocking a 2:21.64 to finish fourth in the event. Kaniak also placed fifth in the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.42.
- Allison Ramirez Romero also delivered a top-five finish, clocking a 2:07.56 in the 200 fly for fifth.
- Two women placed in the top-eight of the three-meter dive. Emma Schum earned a sixth-place finish with a score of 237.30 while Hanna Held placed eighth, scoring a 221.55.
- Other A-final finishes for the women include Hailey Clark's sixth-place finish in the 500 free with a time of 4:59.34 and Eloise Fisher's sixth-place finish in the 100 breast with a time of 2:22.19.
National Invitational Championship
- The Penguins impressive finish in the 800 free relay at the Horizon League Championships, with Miriam Frass, Madelyn Mahoney, Brooke Schuette, and Hailey Clark clocked a 7:27.75, qualified for the squad to swim the event at the postseason CSCAA National Invitational Championship.
- YSU placed 28th in the event at the highly competitive meet, clocking a 7:36.54.
- Frass and Clark also competed in individual events. Frass finished 29th in the 1000 free with a time of 10:21.96 and 30th in the 1650 free with a time of 17:06.52. Frass also competed in the 500 free and 400 IM, placing 51st in the 500 free with a time of 5:02.58 and 53rd in the 400 IM with a time of 4:31.90.
- Clark placed 31st in the 1650 free with a time of 17:09.51 and finished 33rd in the 1000 free with a time of 10:22.90.
- Overall, the women scored 21 points at the meet.
NCAA Diving Zone C Championship Highlights
- Two Penguins qualified for the NCAA Diving Zone C Championship: Hanna Held and Emma Schum.
- Held qualified for the platform dive, recording her highest-mark of the season at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational, scoring a 239.20 to best the 225 mark required for qualification.
- Held went on to finish 25th at the Zone C Championship, scoring a 189.00 in the five-dive platform event, average a score of 37.80 per round.
- Schum qualified for the Zone C Championships on the one-meter dive with a score of 266.33 vs. Duquesne, eclipsing the 265 mark required to qualify for the NCAA Zones.
- Schum placed 54th at the Zone C Championship with a score of 193.40, averaging a 32.23 per round.
Additional Highlights
- Miriam Frass delivered three top-seven finishes at the Akron Zips Classic to win the Horizon League Women's Swimmer of the Week title. She placed third in the 1650 free with a time of 17:09.78. Additionally, she finished sixth in the 400 IM (4:32.92) and seventh in the 200 breast (2:23.41) to round out her impressive all-around performance.
- Hailey Clark and Oliwia Kaniak won events in the Penguins duel with St. Bonaventure. Clark clocked an 11:02.58 to win the 1000 free, finishing over 10 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Kaniak finished first in the 100 breast, swimming a time of 1:08.18. Hanna Held swept the women's diving events with a score of 232.65 in the one-meter and 253.73 in the three-meter.
- Miriam Frass won both the 200 (1:55.59) and 1000 freestyle (10:38.12) in a double dual with Niagara and St. Francis.
- Miriam Frass won each event she competed in against Cleveland State: 1000 free (10:38.68), 200 free (1:56.22), and 500 free (5:11.68). The women also swept both diving events against the Vikings with Dasha Toth earning the victory in the three-meter dive with a score of 230.70 and Hanna Held winning the one-meter dive, scoring a 258.00.
- Oliwia Kaniak and Miriam Frass both earned two event victories against IUPUI. Frass touched first in the 200 IM (3:12.01) and 1000 free (10:20.70). Kaniak won the 100 breast (1:07.69) and 50 breast (29.80).
- The Penguin women earned five event victories against Denison: Ellen Linschied (one-meter dive), Hann Held (three-meter dive), Anna Kozinska (100 back), Miriam Frass (500 free, and Oliwia Kaniak (100 IM).
- YSU swept the diving events against Duquesne with Held winning the three-meter (258.23) and Schum the one-meter (266.33).
Academic Excellence
- Miriam Frass and Hailey Clark were named to the 2024 Valeo Horizon League All-Academic Team while Macy Wang was named an honorable mention.
- Four Penguins were named to the 2023-24 CSC Academic All-District Team: Hailey Clark, Miriam Frass, Oliwia Kaniak, and Macy Wang.
- The program earned CSCAA Fall Scholar All-American honors with an impressive 3.44 Fall 2023 G.P.A.
Players Mentioned
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Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 18
Tuesday, April 14
Tuesday, April 14
