The Oberlin swimming and diving team took to the pools this Winter Term, surviving the cold temperatures by taking a training trip to Florida in early January.

After catching some rays and warmer weather, the men’s and women’s teams competed against the Little Bears from Ursinus College and the Foresters from Lake Forest College on Jan. 8 in Florida.

The Yeowomen won both match-ups, defeating Ursinus 62-51 and Lake Forest 86-24, while the men fell to Ursinus 44-67 and Lake Forest 19-93.

Upon returning to Ohio, the Yeo-swimmers traveled to Ohio Northern University to take on the Polar Bears in a dual meet on Jan. 12. 

Performing well for the Yeowomen, junior Kiri Ulmschneider took the lead in the 1000-yard freestyle and finished ahead of the competition by nearly 30 seconds with a time of 11:22.91.

Ulmschneider also showed her versatility and stamina by winning the 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard individual medley. Sophomore and younger sister Bryne Ulmschneider earned nine points and a win in the women’s 200-yard freestyle in 2:02.75. She also took home first place in the 500 freestyle.

First-year Laura Fries also earned a win with an outstanding performance in the women’s 200 backstroke, recording the fifth fastest time ever by a Yeowoman. Her time was 2:16.

The Yeomen had a strong showing from their only diver, junior Cory Myers. He won the three-meter diving competition with 215.95 points. Sophomore Scott McInerney swam close on the heels of Ohio Northern, finishing second in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.6.

A few days later, the Yeowomen traveled to Notre Dame College (OH) to compete, taking home their third win of the season, 99-82. Notable performances included a one-two sweep in the women’s 50-yard freestyle by senior co-captain Emily Spence, who won in 26.86, followed by Bryne Ulmschneider in 27.52.

Another Oberlin punch came from Fries and sophomore Ploy Keener in the women’s 100-yard backstroke. Oberlin’s varsity 200-yard medley relay, consisting of Fries, senior Melissa Ising, Kiri Ulmschneider and Keener, was victorious as well. 

On Jan. 13, both Oberlin swim teams traveled to Washington and Jefferson College (PA). Winners on the women’s side included Bryne Ulmschneider in the 1000-yard freestyle and Fries in the 100-yard freestyle.

Oberlin took home the gold, silver and bronze in the women’s 100-yard butterfly. Spence, Ising and senior Kate Chenault were the triumphant Yeowomen.

On the men’s end, Myers had a spectacular one-meter dive, defeating two divers from Washington and Jefferson. He also won the three-meter dive.

In 100-yard free, McInerney touched the wall first with a time of 51.27, while senior James Barnard followed with a second place finish. McInerney finished first in the 100-yard butterfly as well. Oberlin sophomore Mark Muthersbaugh tallied a win in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 33.95.     

First-year Daniel Holm swam faster than his seed time in the 200-yard breaststroke, winning the event in 2:23.85.

Oberlin’s last home meet of the season was against John Carroll University on Jan. 20. The women ended the regular season well, achieving a win over the Blue Streaks and earning nine conference points.

The relay team consisting of Fries, Bryne Ulmschneider, Spence and first-year Shannon Gallagher pulled off a win in the 200-yard medley, recording a time of 1:56.76.

Gallagher, after having the fastest split in the medley, went on to win the 200-yard  freestyle. Spence also returned in the women’s 50-yard freestyle and won the event while Gallagher also won the 100-yard freestyle.

Kiri Ulmschneider performed well in the 200-yard individual medley crossing in 2:21.22. She also won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:03.74 and the 1000-yard freestyle in a time of 11:19.25. Fries competed in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing in a time of 1:04.26.

Yeoman swimmer Holm won the 500-yard free with a time of 5:24.41 and the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:08.55. McInerney also tagged a win in the 50-yard freestyle touching the wall in 22.14.

The Yeo-swimmers have had nearly three weeks off from competition as they prepare to compete at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships on Feb. 8-10. The squad will travel to Canton, OH to swim at the C.T. Branin Natatorium. 

The Yeomen are currently 0-14 overall and 0-4 in the NCAC, while the Yeowomen are 4-11 overall and 0-4 in the NCAC.