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Men's Swimming Is NAIA Runner-Up; Women Finish Fourth At Nationals |
| Mar. 3, 2007- The Lindenwood men’s swimming and diving team
was the NAIA runner-up for the second straight season, while the Lady Lions
took fourth-place at the NAIA national championships, which concluded on
Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. The men’s team scored 499 points, finishing well behind national champion California Baptist who had 937.5 points, and well ahead of third-place Savannah College of Art & Design who had 402 points. The women’s team collected 298 points at the meet, winning a close three-way battle for the fourth position. California Baptist also won the women’s championship with 783.5 points. Thomas Bourdin was the top male swimmer, including winning the national championship in the 200 back. Bourdin also earned all-American honors after finishing second in the 100 back and as a member of the 400 medley relay team. He also scored in the 200 free and in three other relay events. The other individual all-American honor for the men’s team came from Ivo Ivanov who was third in the 100 breaststroke. Two Lindenwood relays earned all-American honors as the 200 free relay and the 400 medley relay squads both finished third. That first squad was made up of Jacob Kovaric, Jon Lau, Ivanov and Chris Ricketts. The 400 medley team consisted of Bourdin, Ivanov, Lau and Ricketts. The women’s team was led by Erin Nakamoto who earned all-American honors after finishing as the NAIA runner-up in the 100 fly. She also finished fourth in the 200 IM and eighth in the 100 back. Other top-eight finishes included Lee’Ann Kelso in the 100 breaststoke, Sarah Hunt in the 200 fly and Natalie Oskvarek in the 1650 free. In relays, the 200 medley, 200 free and 400 medley squads all finished in fourth-place. After the meet, Lindenwood head coach Craig Penrose was named the men's national coach of the year. Andrew Morgan, Erin Nakamoto, Christopher Ricketts and Willis Thompson were named NAIA Scholar Athletes. |