MEET INFORMATION
Purdue Women at Ohio State Winter Invite
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11 to 12
Prelims: 11 a.m. ET / Finals: Saturday at 5 p.m. ET, Sunday at 4 p.m. ET
McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion / Columbus, Ohio
Competing Teams: Cleveland State, Eastern Michigan, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (Ohio), Missouri, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Wright State
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Nine members of Purdue women's swimming are set to race this weekend at the two-day, 11-team Ohio State Winter Invite.
Six individual events and two relays are on the schedule for both days of competition. Prelims are slated for 11 a.m. ET and finals at 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. As is customary at invitational meets, relays are finals-only events. The 1,650 freestyle will be also offered as a finals-only event Sunday.
The Boilermakers will be represented in Columbus by Lea Cecil, Grace Einterz, Anna Giesler, Chloe Guhlstorf, Rachel Ho, Sophie Levy, Leah Ritsema, Cally Sampson and Reagan Thom. Purdue's top performer this weekend will earn the final spot on the team's roster for the Big Ten Championships, set for Feb. 15 to 18 at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center.
Ohio State's McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion has been a frequent destination for the Boilermakers in recent seasons. However, only the divers have been there so far in 2016-17, winning the combined team scoring title at the USA Diving Winter Nationals in December. The Purdue men travel to Columbus later this month as the Men's Big Ten Championships is hosted by the Buckeyes for the first time since 2010.
.@Alexacrystal13 catches up w/ @Leah_Ritz8 to discuss OSU Winter Invite & Leah's experiences working for the Colts. https://t.co/tWRwNtrACi
- Purdue Swimming (@PurdueWSwim) February 9, 2017
Team scoring is traditionally not stressed at the Ohio State Winter Invite. Among the 10 other teams expected to have swimmers in attendance, the Boilermakers have already competed head-to-head against Miami (Ohio) and Notre Dame. Louisville, Missouri, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh are all new to the meet field this year. With seven of the 11 teams in this year's field coming from Power 5 conferences, the meet should be as competitive as ever.
In recent seasons, strong performances at the Ohio State Winter Invite have earned Boilermakers Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors. Julianne Heyde was recognized two years ago after sweeping the 100 and 200 free while also finishing second to Ritsema in the 50 free. Lew Gerbrandt claimed the conference honor last year after her final meet as a Boilermaker. Samantha Feulner was the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week after the OSU Winter Invite in both 2011 and 2012 and Tracy Glaser claimed the same award in 2013.
Among active Boilermakers returning to Columbus for the meet, Grace Einterz, Rachel Ho and Chloe Guhlstorf were part of Purdue's victorious teams in the 200 medley or 200 free relays.
Order of Events
Relays & 1650 Free are Finals Only Events
| Saturday 200 Medley Relay 500 Free 100 Fly 100 Breast 100 Back 400 IM 100 Free 200 Free Relay  | Sunday 400 Medley Relay 1650 Free 200 Free 200 Back 200 Breast 50 Free 200 Fly 200 IM 400 Free Relay |