Local Sports

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Local Roundup: Schnell-McCoy fourth in 200 backstroke
CANTON -- University of Findlay sophomore Nikki Schnell-McCoy put together the best performance in program history Saturday night to cap the Oilers' weekend at the NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships at C.T. Branin Natatorium.

Schnell-McCoy posted the highest finish ever for UF women in D-II competition by making the “A” final and finishing fourth in the 200-yard backstroke finals with a time of 2:01.79.

It was her third All-American award on the weekend as the Toledo Notre Dame Academy product added a sixth in the 100 back Friday and teamed with Lindsay Hatteberg, Brittany Balitzkat and Jillian Herbst to earn All-American honors and finish 14th in the 400 medley relay Thursday.

Hatteberg completed her career with a 10th in the 100 freestyle in 51.48 seconds. It was the fourth All-American award on the weekend for Hatteberg, who also recorded top 16 showings in the 50 free and 200 free.

Schnell-McCoy and Hatteberg also teamed with Jill Herbst and Brittany Balitzkat to finish 29th in the 400 free relay (3:39.7). The Oilers were 21st overall in the 37-team field with 39 points.

Smithey 5th in 400

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- University of Findlay sophomore Curtis Smithey earned a pair of All-American awards Saturday to lead the Oilers at the NCAA Division II national indoor track and field championships.

Smithey, an Elmwood graduate, posted a fifth-place finish in the men's 400-meter dash in a time of 47.59 seconds. He also teamed up with Greg Schaible, Lyndon Johnson and Simon Bernard for a sixth-place showing in the 1,600-meter relay (3:15.09).

It's the second straight year the Oilers have earned All-American honors in the relay.

Findlay sophomore Derrick Vicars also earned a spot on the awards stand in the shot put as he finished sixth with a toss of 57-7. The Oilers' Nathaniel Kurtz was 10th in the weight throw at 61-7.

Findlay finished 14th overall in the men's team standings with 10 points.

Two former Columbus Grove standouts also competed as members of the Ashland University men's team.

Sophomore Cory Meuleman earned All-American honors for the Eagles with an eighth-place effort (63-9½). Senior Blaine Maag ended up 11th in the shot put (55-1/4).

Senior Stephanie Charnigo and Raven Clay picked up All-American awards for the UF women's team.

Charnigo picked up her fourth career indoor All-American award by crossing the finish line fourth in the 800 (2:12.55). Clay, meanwhile, placed in the 60-meter hurdles for the second straight year with a fourth-place showing (8.34).

Randi Depp finished 10th in the weight throw (55-9¾). Lindsay Schmitmeyer crossed the finish line 13th in the 800 (2:16.53).

UF's women finished in a tie for 19th in the 46-team field with 10 points.

UF wrestlers fall

OMAHA, Neb. -- There will be no All-Americans for the University of Findlay wrestling team this season.

Four Roughneck wrestlers fell a match short of All-American honors after they were eliminated in the second consolation round at the NCAA Division II national tournament at Nebraska-Omaha.

It's the first time since 2001, the school's first year competing in Division II, that the Roughnecks haven't produced an All-American.

Findlay heavyweight Matt Clum was nearly able to advance as he dropped a 5-1 overtime decision in his final bout.

Jeremy Espinoza (149) suffered an 8-4 decision to Minnesota-Mankato's Travis Eig, Michael Lybarger (157) fell 5-1 to Wisconsin-Parkside's Dillon Bera and Dan Stevenson (197) lost 6-4 to Northern State's Matthew Mueleners.

The Roughnecks ended up 31st in the 39-team field with two points.

UF First Round Results

133 -- Naveed Baghari (San Francisco St.) maj. Dec. Jan Ulinski (UF), 14-1.

141 -- Jay Sherer (Augustana) dec. Josh Falk (UF), 5-3.

149 -- Latra Collick (Newberry) dec. Jeremy Espinoza (UF), 6-3.

157 -- Danny Grater (Fort Hays St.) maj. dec. Michael Lybarger (UF), 11-0.

184 -- Derek Ross (Nebraska-Kearney) dec. Jeff Havelka (UF), 8-2.

197 -- Tyler Copsey (Augustana) dec. Dan Stevenson (UF), 6-2.

285 -- Chris Dempsey (Pitt-Johnstown) dec. Matt Clum (UF), 3-2.

First Consolations

133 -- Shane McQuade (St. Cloud St.) pinned Ulinski (UF), 6:00.

141 -- Andrew Milanak (Gannon) dec. Falk (UF), 3-2.

149 -- Espinoza (UF) dec. Tyler Juby (MSC), 14-9.

157 -- Lybarger (UF) dec. Justin Decker (Upper Iowa), 3-2.

184 -- Derek Scala (St. Cloud St.) dec. Havelka (UF), 6-1.

197 -- Stevenson (UF) dec. Vincent Bordi (San Francisco St.), 3-2.

285 -- Clum (UF) dec. Jesse Boggs (New Mexico Highlands), 4-2.

Second Consolations

149 -- Travis Elg (Minnesota-Mankato) dec. Espinoza (UF), 8-4.

157 -- Dillon Bera (Wisconsin-Parkside) dec. Lybarger (UF), 5-1.

197 -- Matthew Mueleners (Northern St,) dec. Stevenson (UF), 6-4.

285 -- Charlie Alexander (Western St.) dec. Clum (UF), 5-1, OT.

Wannemacher seventh

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Ottoville graduate Stacey Wannemacher is an All-Amercan.

Wannemacher, a junior at Purdue, posted a seventh place finish in the women's shot put at Saturday's NCAA Division I indoor track and field championships at the University of Arkansas.

Wannamacher, a second-place finisher in the Big 10 last month, uncorked a throw of 54-1/2 on her final throw of the preliminary round to secure a spot in the finals. She remained seventh throughout the finals competition to become the Boilermakers' first All-American in the event.

She also competed in the women's weight throw earlier in the weekend and was 11th (62-71/4).

Hope ties for 11th

GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- Ohio Northern sophomore Nicole Hope finished in a tie for 11th place in the pole vault at the NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships at DePauw University Saturday.

In her first NCAA championship appearance, Hope vaulted to a height of 11-41/4. She tied for 11th with junior Holly Rollins from McMurry (Texas).

She was the lone Ohio Northern athlete to compete in the meet.

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