BUFFALO, NY - Eastern Michigan University won its fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference title Saturday night at the MAC Swimming and Diving Championships held at the University at Buffalo's Alumni Arena Natatorium. The Eagles scored 938 points to outdistance second-place Ball State (578). Toledo finished third (566), followed by Miami (OH) (446), Ohio (368) and Buffalo (275).

Patrick Lee

Toledo's Lorant Divald was named the Swimmer of the Year. Ohio's Robert Krichbaum captured the Diver of the Year title. Ball State head coach Bob Thomas was named Swim Coach of the Year while the Diving Coach of the Year award went to Buck Smith of Eastern Michigan. Miami's Kelly Ball was named the Senior of the Year.

Eastern Michigan's Justin Breitigam won his third event in as many nights when he captured the 200 butterfly in 1:48.77. Breitigam was victorious earlier in the meet in both individual medley races. Eastern Michigan swimmers Sean Joyce, Ryan Meekins and John Bartlet also captured individual wins on Saturday. Joyce took the 1650 freestyle in 15:45.73. Meekins won the 100 butterfly in 45.53 and Bartlet took the 200 breaststroke in 2:02.28. The Eagles also captured the final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay with the team of Jeff Luhn, David Ruch, Meekins and Doug Fleming, in 3:01.32.

Aviv Oren

Toledo's Justin Lawrence set pool records in both the preliminary and championship races of the 200 backstroke. Lawrence broke the 14-year old mark of 1:49.20 in the early session with a 1:48.67 clocking, then followed that on Saturday night with a 1:47.58 to earn the title.

Krichbaum captured the three-meter diving competition with a total of 515.95 points.

Highlighting UB's third-night efforts was Patrick Lee (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) taking second to Krichbaum in the three-meter diving at 458.00 points. Aviv Oren (Rishon Le-Zion, Israel/Makif A') placed fourth in the 200 breaststroke in 2:07.03. Oren won the 100 breaststroke on Friday night. Mark Sy (Scarborough, Ontario/Mary Ward) and Jon Yarger (Centre Hill, PA/Penns Valley) scored in the 1650 freestyle. Sy took ninth in 16:19.72 while Yarger clocked a 16:22.47 to finish in 12th place. Dave Richards (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) was 13th in the 200 backstroke in a lifetime-best 1:54.62 while Kurt Bessel (Mexico, NY/Mexico Academy) finished in 15th in 1:56.80. Geoff Wells (Waterville, OH/Anthony Wayne) placed 16th in the 200 breaststroke in 2:12.41 and Jim Taravella ((Hamburg, NY/Orchard Park) scored a 13th-place finish in the three-meter diving at 319.40 points.

Following the meet, the All-MAC first team was announced. The team consisted of Breitigam (EMU), Divald (Toledo), Bartlet (EMU), Luhn (EMU), Meekins (EMU), Fleming (EMU), Lawrence (Toledo), Ball (Miami), Patrik Johansson (Toledo), Joyce (EMU), J.P. VanZyl (Toledo), Oren (Buffalo), Kevin Doak (EMU), Andrew Siebenick (EMU) and Krichbaum (Ohio). The second team consisted of Ondrej Pekarovic (EMU), Andrew Keefe (Miami), Branislav Hronsky (EMU), Stephan Connor (Toledo), Ryan Bowman (Ball State), Jason Revere (Ball State), Chad Rusk (Ball State) and Kurtis Leer (Ball State).

Saturday's Champions

1650 Freestyle Sean Joyce (Eastern Michigan) 15:45.73

200 Backstroke Justin Lawrence (Toledo) 1:47.58

100 Freestyle Ryan Meekins (Eastern Michigan) 45.53

200 Breaststroke John Bartlet (Eastern Michigan) 2:02.28

200 Butterfly Justin Breitigam (Eastern Michigan) 1:48.77

3-Meter Diving Robert Krichbaum (OhIo) 515.95

400 Free Relay Eastern Michigan 3:01.32

(Jeff Luhn, David Ruch, Ryan Meekins, Doug Fleming)