Tigers Celebrate Senior Day With Big Wins Over Centre, Butler

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Wittenberg men's and women's swimming and diving teams sent their seniors out on the highest of possible notes with a tremendous performance in their final home meet of the 2012-13 season. Both the Tiger men and women picked up convincing victories over NCAA Division III rival Centre, while the Tiger women added a big win over NCAA Division I Butler as well.

Wittenberg's women ran their dual meet record to a sparkling 9-2 on the season, heading into the season finale at Kenyon on Feb. 2, with wins over Centre 156-103 and Butler 177-82. On the men's side, the Tigers are now 7-3 in duals after dispatching Centre by a score of 151-110.

For the women, Wittenberg recorded the fastest time in 13 different events, including both relays. The Tigers also were the only team in the meet with divers, allowing Wittenberg to pile up additional points.

Numerous swimmers shined for Wittenberg, including junior Molly Gustafson (West Hartford, Conn./Conard), who swept the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events and swam the same stroke in the winning 200-yard medley relay. She was joined in 200 medley relay by junior Sarah Wilson (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe) and seniors Jane Tsivitse (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) and Ward McNulty (Glencoe, Ill./New Trier). Wilson recorded a similar sweep, posting first-place finishes in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events to go along with a blue ribbon in the 200-yard Individual Medley.

Tsivitse also was a four-time winner on the day, including individual victories in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events. She capped her career in the HPER Center Natatorium in style, swimming a leg on the 400-yard freestyle relay to post the fastest time in the event with freshman Margaret White (Westfield, Ind./Westfield), freshman Dani Lacy (Louisville, Ky./Louisville Collegiate School) and McNulty, who additionally touched the wall first in the 50-yard freestyle.

Rounding things out, White added individual wins in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, while Lacy touched first in the 100-yard freestyle and second in the 200-yard freestyle.

For the men, sophomore AJ Burt (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) provided many of the highlights as he picked up four victories on the day, starting with the 200-yard medley relay with senior Andrew Koukis (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes), senior Brendan Eggers (Rye, NY/Rye) and senior JB Easley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seven Hills). Burt went on to take first place in the 100-yard breaststroke, 500-yard freestyle and 1000-yard freestyle events.

Sophomore Jared Crum (Galveston, Ind./Lewis Cass) was a three-time winner in the meet, taking the top spot in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle while also swimming a leg on the 400-yard freestyle relay that recorded the top time. He was joined by sophomore Cameron Mackintosh (Lusaka, Zambia/American International), sophomore James Dumstorf (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) and Easley on the relay.

Not to be outdone, Dumstorf picked up a trio of individual crowns on the day, touching out the competition in the 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard breaststroke. Rounding things out, Easley posted a victory in the 200-yard freestyle and freshman Steve Stuthers (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) led the competition in the 200-yard Individual Medley.

During the meet, the team's seniors were honored in a special pool-deck ceremony. For the men, the senior class included Koukis, Easley and Eggers. On the women's side, the seniors included Tsivitse, McNulty, Leah Barnhouse (Beallsville, Ohio/Dhahran (Saudi Arabia)), Rachael Nuzzo (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor), Katie Reed (Cincinnati, Ohio/Northwest) and Claire Shannon (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin).