Tigers Anxiously Await Announcement Of Those Who Qualify For The NCAA Championship Meets

And now the waiting game begins for the Wittenberg men's and women's swimming and diving teams - or at least those individuals who hope to compete in the NCAA Division III Championship meets next month.

Five Wittenberg swimmers have posted times that qualify for the championship meet, three women and two men. But none are guaranteed a spot, and based upon previous seasons, only two individuals are resting easily upon their accomplishments during the 2003-04 regular season.

Senior Steve Rader (Concord, Ohio/St. Ignatius) is in good shape with several outstanding qualifying times. He lowered his time in the 400-meter Individual Medley last weekend at the Veale Last Chance Invitational at Case Western Reserve, touching the wall in 4:14.5, breaking a seven-year-old record.

Already a three-time All-American, Rader is now pointing toward one final meet, the national championships at Principia College in St. Louis, Mo. He is among the nation's best in several events, and he will be trying to improve on fourth place, his best finish ever in a national meet.

Also in good standing for the national meet is sophomore Becca Searcy (Shelbyville, Ky./Shelby County), who has posted several qualifying times in distance freestyle and individual medley events. She was an Honorable Mention All-America a year ago, and her times in 2003-04 have been even better.

On the bubble, so to speak, are senior Alex Berger (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) from the men's team and sophomore Betany Yeakley (Wilmington, Ohio/Wilmington) and freshman Jenny Mulligan (Cheyney, Pa./Delaware Valley Friends). from the women's team. All three have at least one national qualifying time, but none rank in the top-20 in an individual event. The normal cut-off for the NCAA meet is between 22-25 competitors per event.

The women will find out Thursday whether they are invited to compete at the national meet, scheduled for March 11-13 at Principia. The men must wait until next Thursday, March 4, before their announcement is made.

Next: 3/11-13 NCAA Division III Championships (Women)
3/18-20 NCAA Division III Championships (Men)
Hosted by Principia College in St. Louis, Mo.