AKRON -- The rise of the Heidelberg University Swim teams was evident at the Ohio Athletic Conference Swim Championships at the Ocasek Natatorium. The women's team finished fourth, scoring 417 points and the men's team was fifth with 191 points -- the best showing in the three-year history for both programs. Saturday's events yielded another two All-OAC relay performances. HU walked away with five all-conference honors, given to the top three finishers.

The rise in status can be attributed to a growth in depth for both teams, providing opportunities for the Student Princes to score points in the A-finals (top eight in prelims) and the B-finals (the next eight in prelims).

"I am excited about the direction of the program," said Head Coach Ben Rath. "I thought we swam well throughout the competition, and yet -- there is still plenty of room for growth!"

Virginia Dabrunz, Hannah Robinson, and Hannah Cormican finished in succession in the B-finals of the 200 back. 

Andrey Pilipchuk was fifth overall in the 100 free, clocking a 46.93. In the consolations, Zach MacDonald, Evan Eaglin and Caleb Owen were 1-2-3.

Addison Fortney just missed All-OAC honors in the women's 100 free, placing fourth with a time of 54.45. Delaney Buxton was sixth with a 55.35.  Lily Clark, Riley Mullin, Joie Kendrick and Kendra Chapman scored in the B-final.

Mullin and Cassy Connare scored in the consolations of the 200 breast. Lance Koch got on the board in the men's 200 fly  consolations, while Courtney Kaye took sixth overall on the women's side. She touched the wall in 2:27.30.

The meet wrapped up with the 400 free relay. The men's team (Pilipchuk, MacDonald, Eaglin, Owens) landed third, clocking a 3:21.09.  The women's team (Fortney, Elli Mayer, Buxton, Kaye) were the runners-up, finishing in 3:24.43. 

Women's Team Scores:
MOUNT UNION - 951
BALDWIN WALLACE - 810
OHIO NORTHERN - 488
HEIDELBERG - 417
WILMINGTON  - 273

Men's Team Scores:
OHIO NORTHERN - 980.5
MOUNT UNION - 898
WILMINGTON - 417.5
BALDWIN WALLACE - 305
HEIDELBERG - 191
 

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FROM FRIDAY: 
A majority of the action commenced on Thursday, with morning preliminaries feeding into finals that evening. The men's 200 free relay was fourth, and the women's team took second. The team of Elli Mayer, Addison Fortney, Delaney Buxton and Courtney Kaye swam a 1:40.64 -- becoming the program's first All-OAC relay team.  

In the women's 500 free, Mackenzie Hoffman, Virginia Dabrunz and Lily Clark scored in the consolation finals. Later, Hannah Robinson and Cassy Connare scored in the consolation finals of the 200 individual medley. 

Andrey Pilipchuk finished seventh in the 50 free, clocking a 21.42.  Zach MacDonald, Evan Eaglin, and Caleb Owens all scored in the B final. 

Mayer earned an All-OAC medal in the women's 50 free, taking third. She touched the wall in 24.31. Fortney placed fifth and Buxton was sixth -- making HU the only team with three finishers in the top eight. Joie Kendrick scored in the B final.

The day concluded with the 400 medley. Heidelberg's women were fifth.  

Friday evening's session vaulted the women into fourth place. The women started with a fourth-place finish in the 200 medley relay.

Lance Koch placed in the consolation finals of the 400 IM, grabbing a couple of points. On the women's side, Kaye was fifth and Robinson was seventh in the A finals.  

In the 100 fly, Pilipchuk grabbed a sixth-place finish on the men's side. On the women's side, Mayer took fourth with a time of 1:01.43. Kendrick was seventh in the consolations.

MacDonald was eighth in the 200 free, with Eaglin and Owens earning points in the B finals. 

For the women's 200 free, Fortney earned All-OAC honors by finishing third. She clocked a 2:01.40, narrowly edging out the fourth-place finisher. Buxton won the B-final, with Hoffman, Clark and Uhl also earning points. 

The women added points in the 100 yard breaststroke, with Connare taking eighth.  Riley Mullin was fourth in the consolations. 

Mayer took sixth in the 100 back. Dabrunz won the B-final, with Hannah Cormican also earning points. 

Through 25 events, the women had 278 points and the men have 118.