March 12, 2009

Houston, Tex. - Grand Valley State is in fifth place with 53 points at the 2009 NCAA DII Swimming & Diving National Championships in Houston, Texas. Drury leads the way after day one with 101 points. Competition continues through Saturday at the University of Houston Aquatic Center.

Junior Evan Betts (Milan, Mich.) led a strong Laker contingent on the 3-meter board as three earned All-America honors. Betts finished third with a championship total of 457.20, while Patrick VanDommelen (Dorr, Mich./Wayland) finished 13th (323.95) and Reece Bierhalter (South Haven, Mich.) 14th (309.55). GVSU's gained four more All-America honors in the 200 medley relay with a fifth-place finish. Evan Kobes (Holland, Mich.), Hans Hill (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep), Jeremy Sall (Zeeland, Mich./West) and Matt Witkowski (South Lyon, Mich.) touched in 1:30.45.

Sophomore Justin Patterman (Elburn, Ill.) earned an All-America award with his 15th-place finish in the 200 Individual Medley as he touched in 1:52.57. Witkowski finished 24th with a prelim swim of 1:52.60. Kobes placed 34th in the 50 free in the morning prelims when he touched in 20.83.