LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- As it is in competition, every second counts, and the Ouachita Baptist Tigersharks made sure to take advantage of every opportunity, capturing their second National Championship in as many days in the 200 yard Freestyle relay at the NCAA Division II Championships at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pa. on Thursday. Ouachita also won an NCAA title in the 200 yard Medley Relay on the opening day of competition
It was the difference of a mere split second, as Ouachita edged out Wingate University to win their second NCAA Division II National Title in 2010 with the relay team of senior Radu Badalac, junior Daniel Karkoska, and freshman Marcus Holland and Tim Ferris with a time of 1:20.79, as Wingate finished right behind in second at 1:20.90.
The Tigersharks captured their first National Championship of competition on Tuesday in the 200 yard Medley Relay with the relay team of seniors Radu Badalac and Nelson Silva, junior Razvan Goga and freshman Marcus Holland with a time of 1:28:24. The team finished ahead of second place finisher Ashland University with a time of 1:29.90.
In the Women’s Division, Ouachita sophomore Ksenia Gromova finished in third overall in the 100 yard Butterfly at 55.59, behind Drury’s Li Tao at 54.51.
Senior Nelson Silva finished in sixth in the 100 yard Butterfly at 49.28, as Zach Interrante of Henderson State won the title with a time of 48.08. In the 400 yard Medley Relay, the Tigersharks finished in third at 3:17.18 with the team of Badalac, Goga, Silva and Holland. Ouachita finished behind Drury at 3:16.49 overall.
On Tuesday, only .06 seconds separated Badalac and a National title, as the senior finished in third in the 50 yard Free at 20:13, narrowly behind Dan Perdaw of UCSD (20.07). Holland finished in seventh in the same race at 20.51. In the Women’s Division, Gromova finished in 10th in the 200 yard IM (2:05.80).
After two days of competition, Ouachita sits in fourth place overall in the Men’s Division with 159 points, behind leader Drury with 264. On the Women’s side, Ouachita is currently in 13th place with 33.5 points, behind Drury (343). The NCAA Championships with conclude with two more days of competition, concluding with the final ceremonies on Saturday.
