GRINNELL, Iowa – The Ripon swim and dive programs used momentum from Friday and turned in a host of impressive performances on Saturday at the Midwest Conference Championships hosted by Grinnell at the Russell K. Osgood Pool.
Ben Rahlf and
Sophie Czerwonka led the charge and qualified for "A" finals in the 100 fly and 100 breast, respectively, while
Ben Chambers and
Brigham Freeman qualified for the "B" final in the 100 breast. Also earning the right to participate in Saturday night's "B" finals were
Lauren Bahr (100 back),
Lillian McGuire (100 fly) and
Cooper Herr,
Sky Domingo and
Natalie Weidner in the 200 free.
In Saturday's nightcap, Chambers won the 100 breast consolation in 1:00.70, while Freeman took third in the same event (1:01.79). The women's 200 free consolation was also a highlight; Domingo took second in 2:01.35, while Weidner was fourth in 2:06.00.
Rahlf was impressive in the 100 fly final, taking fourth in 51.58. In Ripon's other "A" final of the day, the women's 100 breast final, Czerwonka placed eighth with a time of 1:11.24.
Relay events were kind to the Red Hawks on Saturday – the women's 200 medley team of Bahr, Czerwonka, McGuire and Weidner was third in 1:54.96 and the men's 200 medley relay foursome of Chambers, Freeman, Herr and Rahlf came in fourth with a time of 1:37.91. Additionally, the women's 800 freestyle relay quartet of Domingo, Weidner,
Ella Olive and
Grace McCrery was fourth in 8:40.57.
Three Red Hawk women were in the top eight for 1-meter diving:
Kristy Cerna-Rivera (third place, 332.45),
Morgan Sullivan (seventh place, 249.65) and
Mary Elliot (eighth place, 224.45).
In other consolation events, Herr was fourth in the 200 free (1:47.39), while Bahr took sixth in the 100 back with a time of 1:03.95. McGuire was the eighth finisher in the 100 fly, touching the wall in 1:07.13.
The Ripon women have moved up to fifth, while the men are now seventh with one day to go.
UP NEXT: Ripon starts the final day of the 2023-24 campaign at 9 a.m. on Sunday (February 18) with the 200 backstroke prelims.
FOLLOW: Follow Ripon College Red Hawks Athletics on Facebook and @RiponRedHawks on Twitter for immediate updates, results and more. Go to riponredhawks.com for all information, releases and schedules.
