The Clarion Women's Swimming and Diving team, led by 10-time All-American Kayla Shull (Jr. Free/Back; Franklin/Rocky Grove), is set to compete in the NCAA Division II National Championships March 14 - 17 at the Mansfield ISD Natatorium in Mansfield Texas. The venue is located just south of Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas. Prelims will start each day at 10:30am with finals starting at 6:00 pm. Central time.
Although the Golden Eagles have a small contingent this year, twelfth year head coach Mark VanDyke is looking forward to the NCAA's, after leading the Women to a second place finish at the 2012 PSAC Championships.
The Clarion women will send three participants to nationals, including 2 swimmers and 1 diver. "The qualifying times for nationals continue to get tougher and tougher," said VanDyke. "I think Kayla, Morgan and Kristin are ready for top line performances this week, and that's all we can ask."
In the pool Clarion will have Kayla Shull (So. Free/Back; Franklin - Rocky Grove) and Morgan Oberlander (So. Fly/IM; York, Dallastown), while freshman diver Kristin Day (Reynoldsville/Dubois) will lead coach Dave Hrovat's divers.
Shull, a freestyle/backstroke specialist, was a 5-time A-A last year including a fifth place finish in the 100 back and a 12th place finish in the 100 free at nationals. She set a new school record (55.94) in the 100 back. In 2010 Shull also was a 5-time All-American while placing third at nationals in the 100 back.
Oberlander placed 7th in the 200 fly at nationals last year with a time of 2:02.94. She was also part of one A-A relay and is a career 4-time career All-American. Morgan placed 13th at nationals in the 200 fly in 2010. She is also strong in the 400 IM where she was second recently at the PSAC Championships.
Day will be making her first trip to nationals in 2012. She is qualified for both the three and one meter competition at nationals.
Clarion's women have a long and strong tradition at the NCAA's. Winners of 8 Division II Titles (77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 & 86) and 26 PSAC titles, the Golden Eagles were 6th at nationals last year, 7th in 2009, 8th in 2008, 8th in 2007, 11th in 2006, 10th in 2005, 5th in 2004, 10th in 2003, 7th in 2002 and 6th in 2001. Other top 5 Clarion placings recently include 2nd in 1993, 3rd in 1998 and 94, 4th in 2011, 2000, 99, 97, 95 and 88 and 5th in 1996, 92 and 91.
Last year Clarion finished a strong fourth at the NCAA D-II Nationals scoring 272 team points. Drury won the team race with 483.5 points, Wayne state was second with 388 and Cal San Diego third with 338 points in an event held at the Pala Alto Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas.
In 2010 Clarion finished sixth at D-II Nationals which were held at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio. Drury was the team champion with 657 points, Wayne State was second with 531, Cal San Diego third with 318 and Clarion sixth with 234 points.
In 2009 the Golden Eagles were a strong seventh place scoring 210.5 points. Hosted at the University of Houston's Campus Wellness and Recreation Center, Drury won the team title with 618.5 points, Wayne State was second with 453.5 and Cal San Diego third with 425.
In 2008 the Golden Eagles placed 8th at D-II Nationals, which were held in Columbia, Missouri. Truman State won the women's title with 461.5 points, Drury was second with 449, North Dakota third at 324 and Clarion eighth with 190 points.
CLARION NOTES: Diving Coach Dave Hrovat is in his 22nd year at Clarion... He has been named the NCAA D-II "Diving Coach of the Year" 21-times ... And has crowned a total of 38 national champions and 217 All-Americans in men's and women's diving... Women's coach in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 04, 02, 01, 2000, 1995 and 93, and Men's coach in 2011, 2010, 2003, 02, 98, 97, 96 , 92 and 91...
