Hunt Earns Nationals Spot In Diving Events As AU Men, Women Lose To Purple Raiders

On Friday (Jan. 19) night at the Messerly Natatorium, Ashland University's men's and women's swimming and diving teams lost to Mount Union on Senior Night.
 
The Eagle women lost 154-141, while the AU men fell by a 164-130 decision.
 
Freshman Riley Hunt stole the show on Friday night, becoming the first Eagle since Franci Aleksi and Amar Sapcanin in 2020 to earn a spot at NCAA Division II nationals. Hunt won women's 1-meter (235.10 points) and 3-meter diving (272.05 points) with PRs en route to qualifying for the 2024 NCAA D-II Championships, March 12-16 in Geneva, Ohio.
 
Hunt's victories were two of 17 for Ashland swimmers, divers and relays on the night.
 
Individually, three Eagles won two events each – sophomore Nick Girz in the men's 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.76) and 200 breaststroke (2:15.88), sophomore Joey Lenczyk in the men's 1-meter (272.70 points) and 3-meter (274.50) diving, and freshman Juliana Pignato in the women's 500 freestyle (5:23.46) and 100 butterfly (1:00.41).
 
Also earning AU wins on Friday night were:

• The women's 200 medley relay of senior Gabby Diehl, junior Colleen Cox, Pignato and freshman Payton O'Toole (1:53.19).
• The men's 200 medley relay of freshman Evan Kemp, Girz, and sophomores Nick Olquin and Cole Huebner (1:38.07).
• Sophomore Jason Basile in the men's 1,650 free (17:02.50).
• Cox in the women's 100 breaststroke (1:10.74).
• Sophomore Mary Kate Prall in the women's 200 breaststroke (2:16.63).
• O'Toole in the women's 200 individual medley (2:15.21).
• Olquin in the men's 200 IM (2:04.66).
• The women's 200 free relay of freshman Blair Pichola, Pignato, Diehl and Cox (1:43.19).
• And the men's 200 free relay of freshman Colin Pham, junior Robin Falk, Huebner and sophomore Andrew Oates (1:27.73).

 
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The 2024 Great Midwest Athletic Conference/Mountain East Championships in Canton, Ohio, on Feb. 14-17.