SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Indiana State Women's Swimming and Diving team moved to 11-0 on the season after picking up wins over the University of the Cumberlands and Wittenberg on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Trees defeated the University of the Cumberlands by a score of 194-93 and overtook Wittenberg, 247-41.
 
Surging Sycamores
Vivian Kritikou continued her dominance in the distance events, winning the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:42.28 and holding off teammate Cierra Campbell who touched the wall at 10:47.34. Elisabeth Peskin and Emily Webb took third and fourth with times of 11:06.10 and 11:08.06, respectively.
 
After taking second in the 1000 freestyle, Campbell picked up a victory in the 200-yard butterfly with a final time of 2:08.43. Peskin placed second behind Campbell, recording a time of 2:17.24 and Ashley Jenkins took fourth at 2:18.44.
 
Roles were reversed in the 500-yard freestyle when Campbell was victorious over Kritikou with a time of 5:13.34. Kritikou earned a time of 5:20.72 to give her second place in the event.
 
The 100-yard backstroke also yielded good results for the Sycamores, as Kendall Hansen clocked a time of 58.39 for first place and was followed by Katherine Minatra in third with a time of 1:02.59, as well as Allie Engstrom in fourth at 1:03.82.
 
Hansen toughed-out a second victory in the 200-yard backstroke after winning the 100 backstroke, this time touching the wall at 2:05.62. Madison Brand was the closest Sycamore to her, placing third at 2:10.47.
 
It was a one-two finish for ISU in the 50-yard freestyle with Alex Malmborg taking the win at 24.63 and senior Joelle Borchers swimming right behind her with a time of 25.04.
 
In the 100-yard freestyle, Marlene Pavlu Lewin walked away with a victory after posting a time of 54.85 to hold off her teammate Alex Malmborg. Malmborg ended in second with a time of 55.37.
 
Indiana State dominated the 400-yard freestyle relay, taking the top two positions on Saturday. The team composed of Hansen, Martina Marks, Malmborg and Borchers took the top spot with a time of 3:29.52, while the team made up of Caitie Mansker, Hena Hassan, Campbell and Pavlu Lewin took second at 3:43.54.
 
On the diving end of the pool freshman Keara Shelton swept the diving events, recording a personal-best score in the three-meter dive of 248.40. She also won the one-meter dive with a score of 224.60. Jolie Rusznak placed second in both events with scores of 212.40 and 218.00, respectively.
 
Coach Christensen's Corner
We're coming off a stretch of training where we really challenged the team, both in the water and with weights and dry land," Head Coach Josh Christensen said. "That showed a little bit today, as we were swimming pretty tired. We're where we need to be to set up our performances for the MVC Championship meet."
 
Coach Chen's Remarks
"The divers did really well today," Diving Coach Fengting Chen said. "It was a good chance for them to compete after they came back from a long break and they showed off with high quality and consistency, which is what we've been working on."
 
Top ISU Performers In Each Event
400 Medley Relay: Second Place, Marlene Pavlu Lewin, Megan Schade, Martina Marks, Alex Malmborg, 4:06.63
1000 Freestyle: First Place, Vivian Kritikou, 10:42.28
200 Freestyle: Second Place, Martina Marks, 1:56.99
100 Backstroke: First Place, Kendall Hansen, 58.39
100 Breaststroke: Second Place, Anna Maria Nasiou, 1:10.15
200 Butterfly: First Place, Cierra Campbell, 2:17.24
50 Freestyle: First Place, Alex Malmborg, 24.63
One-Meter Dive: First Place, Keara Shelton, 224.60
100 Freestyle: First Place, Marlene Pavlu Lewin, 54.85
200 Backstroke: First Place, Kendall Hansen, 2:05.62
200 Breaststroke: Second Place, Anna Maria Nasiou, 2:31.63
500 Freestyle: First Place, Cierra Campbell, 5:13.34
100 Butterfly: Second Place, Joelle Borchers, 1:00.51
Three-Meter Dive: First Place, Keara Shelton, 248.40
400 IM: Second Place, Madison Brand, 4:44.70
400 Freestyle Relay: First Place, Kendall Hansen, Martina Marks, Alex Malmborg, Joelle Borchers, 3:39.52
 
Up Next
The blue and white will split squad next Friday with the swimmers heading to Eastern Illinois and the divers to Southern Illinois on January 18.  
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Swimming and Diving team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.