HOLLAND, Mich. – Just 15 points separates Calvin College and Albion College in the race for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association men's swimming and diving championship.
Tyler Kimbrell (100-yard breaststroke) and Nate Kozycki (100 butterfly) won individual championships in their respective events for the third time in their careers to highlight Albion's performance in the Friday evening finals.
Albion scored a 1-2 finish in the breaststroke. Kimbrell touched the wall in 56.09 seconds for a two-second victory over teammate Connor Robertson. Kimbrell swam faster in the morning session, with a NCAA 'B' cut time of 56 seconds flat.
Hunter Jackman and Andrew Jonna were the top two finishers in the consolation heat.
Kozycki defended his championship in the fly when he edged Calvin's Jared Britton by a half second. Kozycki set a time (48.45 seconds) that places him seventh among Division III swimmers this season according to collegeswimming.com. Evan Wonner, the third place finisher, also set a NCAA 'B' cut time of 49.16. Len Ciemniecki was sixth (51.48).
Albion rolled up 57 points in the championship race of the 400 individual medley with Jake Huttenlocher finishing second, Noah Mitchell in fourth, Hunter Jackman in sixth and Erik Halboth in seventh.
Three men put 42 points in Albion's column in the 100 backstroke. Ian Moran was third, Kurt Jolly was fifth and Halboth was seventh.
Albion advanced three men to the 200 freestyle final and reaped 37 points. Mac Robertson was fifth, Drew Fogel was seventh and Tommy Trueax was eighth.
Albion started the session with a B cut that is close to the top 10 in Division III in the 200 medley relay. Ian Moran, Kimbrell, Kozycki and Ciemniecki finished in 1:29.94.
Diving competition finished on the 3-meter board. Jake Burris took second with a 513.45 total. Jon Cronick was sixth.
Every swim will count if Albion is to make up the deficit on the final day of competition. The Britons will have 20 individual swims as the schedule includes the 1,650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke and 200 butterfly. The meet concludes with the 400 freestyle relay.
Team Standings (through event 35): Calvin 617, Albion 602, Hope 345, Kalamazoo 340, Olivet 204, Alma 76
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