February 19, 2008

Aqualopers Finish Sixth at Inaugural RMAC Invite

Osmanski Diving C.O.Y.

      Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's swimming & diving team scored 274 points to finish in sixth place at the 2008 RMAC Invitational in Golden, Colo.

      This was the first annual RMAC Invite. Other participating teams included Colorado School of Mines, Mesa State, Metro State, Grand Canyon (Ariz.), Morningside (Ia.) and the University of Texas at Permian Basin.

      On the women's side, the host Oredigggers won (670.5 points) with Mesa second (578) and Metro third (468). The UTPB men won (929.5) a five-team race.

      After scoring 15 points by placing fourth in the 500 freestyle Thursday, Millard West graduate Kari Weihl scored 26 more points over the weekend. She placed sixth in both the 100 (1:07.78) and 200 butterfly (2:36.55).

      Scoring the second most points (25) in individual events on Friday and Saturday was Missouri freshman Rachael Cochran. She finished seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:22.48), 10^th in the 100 freestyle (1:00.92) and 11^th in the 200 breaststroke (3:00.54).

      Finally, Wayne freshman Regan Ruhl was ninth in the 100 fly (1:09.79) and 11^th in the 100 free (1:03.14).     

      UNK then racked up 50 points in diving as Lincoln sophomore Annie Moyer won at one meters (376.72) and was followed closely by Kearney junior Jen Kirkland (347.47) in third and Weston sophomore Katie Bartek in fifth.

      Also, head diving coach Duane Osmanski was named the RMAC Women's Diving Coach of the Year as both Moyer and Kirkland are headed to the NCAA Championships.

      This year, the NCAA's are March 12-15 in Columbia, Missouri.