The MAC brings the Women's Swimming & Diving Championships to the Ocasek Natatorium this week, and the 5-time defending champs (and nationally ranked) Zips get to try for 6 in a row. Two teams have won 7 in a row previously. Despite some set-backs with injuries during the looooong season, I think the Zips will have little problem with taking their 6th title. Here's why:
WEDNESDAY - only two events, both relays, and Akron has dominated the relays in the MACs in every Championship year. They are deep, and it shows in relays more than anywhere else. Their season best in the 200 Individual Medley relay is a full second faster than Eastern Michigan, and their best in the 800 Freestyle relay is 13 seconds faster than Miami's. Two wins on Day 1.
THURSDAY - Sadie Fazekas and Broooke Lamoreaux will score in the 500 Free, but look for Ohio or Buffalo to win, and Miami is always deep at the distances. Sarah Watson and Ellie Nebraska could go 1-2 (or 2-1) in the 200 Individual Medley, with Buffalo's Olivia Sapio in the mix. Watson hit the NCAA qualifying standard already. The 50 Free should see as many as 5 Zips make the Championship final with Fazekas the favorite, but watch for Sophia Hennell to challenge. Both have met NCAA qualifying times. We're weak on the boards this season, but Katey Applin should make finals in the 1-meter, and then the 200 Free relay should be ours, as the quartet already met the NCAA standard.
FRIDAY - The 400 IM should see Sapio with gold but Zipper Jackie Pash, if healthy, might sneak past her. Akron's Emma King and Ohio's Hannah Schlegel should duel it out for third. We own the 100 Butterfly with Fazekas, Watson and Paulina Nogaj 3 of the fastest 4 in the field. Same for the 200 Free, with Fazekas, Nogaj, Nebraska and Avery Movold wrapped around Miami's Camila Lins di Mello in the top 5. EMU (Delaney Duncan with an NCAA time) will more than likely go 1-2 in the 100 Breaststroke but could be challenged by our Paula Garcia. Fazekas and Daisy Platts of Bowling Green have already hit NCAA times in the 100 Backstroke, but it's wide open from there. Karly Crail could make finals in the 3-meter dive, and then the Zips should take the 400 Medley relay, as we're 4 seconds faster than EMU.
SATURDAY - it should be already over when the pool opens Saturday, but you never know. The 1,650 meter Free is like the marathon of track and field, it's all by itself as an event, and it takes a different type athlete to compete in it, let alone win it. look for Ohio's Schlegel to win this one. The 200 Back should be the highlight of the day, as Platts, Movold and Nicole Roitenberg of Buffalo all have met NCAA standard times and within .4 seconds of each other. We could have 5 of the 8 finalists in the 100 Free with Watson and Fazekas at NCAA marks. Andrea Fischer could surprise for Akron in the 200 Breast. And Nogaj and Mackenzie Vargas should dominate in the 200 Back, and watch for Watson to make it a sweep.
Preliminaries get underway each day at 10:30. Diving prelims follow. Finals are at 6:30 and there is a consolation final (qualifiers 9 through 16) and a championship final (1-8) in each event, and both score, so that's why depth plays such a huge part in the title. Find some more space on the Ocasek wall for the sixth banner.