AKRON, Ohio (October 8, 2022) – Denison University opened the 2022-23 season by placing third out of five teams at the Akron Zips Classic. Denison was the only non-Division I program invited to compete against the likes of Akron, Youngstown State, Xavier, and Bowling Green. Akron won with 1,612 points while Bowling Green was second with 785 points and Denison ended with 687.5 points.

Session 2 - Saturday, Oct. 8 - 10 a.m.

In the only relay of the morning session, the Big Red picked up their first NCAA Division III National "B" cut of the season as sophomore Grace Kadlecik, senior Tara Culibrk, freshman Phoebe Ferguson and junior Esme Wright swam a time of 1:35.17 to finish in fourth place in the 200 freestyle relay. In eighth with a time of 1:36.86 was sophomore Amber Croonquist, junior Natalie English, sophomore Maja Palmroos and fellow-sophomore Avery Vogen.

Wright earned both a win and a National "B" cut in the 400 IM with a time of 4:28.13, besting Rachel Sabotin of Akron, who finished in 4:29.51.

In the 100 butterfly, Ferguson (56.74) was sixth and Palmroos (57.48) was ninth; and in the 200 freestyle, Culibrk (1:53.27) was third while freshman Quinn Brown (1:54.38) was sixth.

In the 100 breaststroke, senior Christina Crane (1:04.59) was fourth while freshman Drue Thielking (1:06.22) was ninth.

In the final swimming event of the morning session, the 100 backstroke, sophomore Claire Moody (57.50) finished fifth.

Then in the 3-meter dive, freshman Anya Ferner took third place with a score of 211.65 while junior Maggie Seftenberg added a top-10 finish at 197.25.

Session 3 - Saturday, Oct. 8 - 5 p.m.

The final session started with a National "B" cut time by Denison's group of sophomore Lauren Richner, Crane, Ferguson and Kadlecik, who finished fifth at 1:45.03 in the 200 medley relay. In ninth place was Moody, Thielking, Palmroos and English with a time of 1:47.54.

Then in the 1650 freestyle, Brown finished in fourth place with a time of 17:24.88 while junior Tara Witkowski was right behind her in fifth place with a time of 17:25.14.

In the 200 backstroke, Moody was sixth at 2:03.91 while in the 100 freestyle, Culibrk earned a National "B" cut and was fourth in 51.39 seconds.

In the 200 breaststroke, Wright (2:22.44), Crane (2:22.56) and senior Savannah Sargent (2:23.54) finished in order between seventh and ninth place, while in the final individual race of the meet, junior Nikki Barnas (2:08.74) and Croonquist (2:09.86) finished back-to-back in 10th and 11th place.

In the final event of the meet, Denison's group of Culibrk, Ferguson, Vogen and Wright earned another National "B" cut and finished third with a time of 3:28.00 in the 400 freestyle relay.

Denison returns to action in three weeks to host its first home meet of the 2022-23 season against Xavier University. The action will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, inside the Trumbull Aquatics Center.

NCAA Division III National "B" cuts:
Grace Kadlecik, Tara Culibrk, Phoebe Ferguson and Esme Wright – 200 freestyle relay – 1:35.17
Esme Wright – 400 IM – 4:28.13
Lauren Richner, Christina Crane, Phoebe Ferguson and Grace Kadlecik – 200 medley relay – 1:45.03
Tara Culibrk – 100 freestyle – 51.39
Tara Culibrk, Phoebe Ferguson, Avery Vogen and Esme Wright – 400 freestyle relay – 3:28.00
 
Akron Zips Classic Results