CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Saginaw Valley State University swimming & diving team competed at the Third Annual Magnus Cup Invitational at Busbey Natatorium on the campus of Cleveland State University today (11/21).  The Lady Cards competed against several division-one opponents on the first day of the three day event.

The Cardinals were impressive on day one as the team competed in 13 events in the morning session and posted 12 season-best times.

Freshmen Carley Buechner (50 Yard Breaststroke), Chelsea Harmon (50 Yard Breaststroke), Rebeca Martinez (500 Yard Freestyle and 200 Yard IM), and Tyara Green (50 Yard Freestyle) all advanced to the finals on the first day. 

Martinez was impressive once again posting season-best times in the 500 Yard Freestyle finals round (5:06.15) and 200 Yard IM finals round (2:07.07).   Her marks were good enough for NCAA Championships B Qualifying Times, the first two in SVSU Swimming & Diving history.

Buechner posted a score of 31.18 in the 50 Yard Breaststroke finals round while Harmon finished with a score of 33.74 in the event.

Green tallied a season-high time of 25.25 in the finals round of the 50 Yard Freestyle.

Three Cardinals posted season-best scores in the preliminary round during the morning session in the 50 Yard Freestyle Event.  Melanie Soenksen (25:09), Breanne Bell (25.52), and Kaleigh Kovac (25.87) all swam exceptionally well in the event.

The 500 Yard Freestyle preliminary round saw a pair of Cardinals record their best times of the season.  Shaked Bachar and Katelynn Franczak posted times of 5:24.70 and 5:58.87, respectively. 

The trio of divers competed in the finals of the 1-meter diving event.  Wilhelmina Francisco led the way with a team-high score of 219.25.  Kathleen Murphy recorded a score of 199.70 while Erica Wysocki finished with 186.55 in the event.

Saginaw Valley returns to the pool tomorrow (11/22) morning for the second day of the Magnus Cup Invitational.  The prelims begin at 9:00 a.m. and the finals start at 5:00 p.m. at Busbey Nataorium.