For the 2012 Seniors, Friday night will be cherished forever.  With the seats packed and emotions high the Tigersharks and Lady Tigersharks were ready to provide one of the most memorable senior nights Waggoner pool has ever witnessed.  Head Coach Ryan Killackey, having been ill the last week and a half,  added to the memories by showing up to send the seniors off before handing the reigns over to graduate assistant Kyle Tilley for the night.  Tilley, a former Tigershark, not only coached the meet but also led the past week's practices in Coach Killackey's absense.

After a group effort in the singing of the national anthem the Lady Tigerhsarks led of, taking no one prisoner in the 400 medley relay.  The team of Senior Ksenia Gromova, Svitlana Smirnova, Holly Wray, and Senior Megan Young gave no mercy as they destroyed the lady Red Wave by four and a half seconds with a time of 4:02..99.  The men were even more dominating.  Not only did the team of Emile Maritz, Senior Matt Pope, Adam Zajac, and Jake McLain take first but the "B" relay of Eran Jennings, Jason Pullano, Carl Thomas, and Senior Kristian Krc took second leaving Henderson in the water, at third.  Next came Jennifer Steele, with back to back wins in the 1000 yard freestyle and the 200 yard freestyle, which were less than 15 minutes apart.  Steele finished with times of 10:37.26 and 1:56.16 in the two events.  Haley Fox and Megan Young finished third and forth respectively in the 200 as well.  The men decided to sweep a race again, by going 1-2-3 in the 200 freestyle.  Marcus Schlesinger won in a time of 1:43.65 followed by Chris Price (1:47.00) and Carl Johnson (1:49.69).  Logan Distefano would have placed fourth but only 3 swimmers are allowed to score from each team in an event.  In the 50 the women decided to take a shot at sweeping the competition with Rebecca Zandstra and Smirnova going 1-2 with times of 25.1 and 25.27 respectively.  Zajac took first in the 50 as well, on the men's side, in a time of 21.34.

The 200 IM proved to be a 1-2 punch from the senior class with Gromova taking first in a time of 2:13.55 for the ladies and Krc taking first in a time of 1:56.58 for the men.  In diving senior Kelli Caldwell took 1st and 3rd in the 3 and 1 meter spring board to add points to the board for the women.  After diving Gromova again proved her worth in the 200 fly winning in a time of 2:08.42 taking no prisoners.  The men again went 1-2, this time in the 200 fly with Johnson getting first in a time of 1:59.58 and  Thomas getting second in a time of 2:02.35.  Moving to the sprints Senior Ruth Megli took second in the 100 freestyle in a time of 56.02, while the men continued to clean house with yet another sweep.  Schlesinger, McLain, and Senior Austin Teague went 1-2-3 in the 100 yard freestyle with times of 46.00, 47.44, and 48.23 respectively.  In the 200 back Wray fought her way to a first place finish in a time of 2:17.55 finish, with Senior Megan Rishel taking third.  Maritz getting out touched by five one hundredths of a second finished second for the men in that event with a time of 1:56.80 followed by Jennings who finished in 2:01.81.  Steele made her presence felt once again by winning the 500 free in a time of 5:13.63.  Fox finished third with a time of 5:24.58.  On the men's side Price finished third in a time of 4:59.81.  To round out the night's individual events, Smirnova finished first in the 200 breast with a time of 2:33.59, adding to the Lady Tigersharks' lead.  The men, however, stole the show with yet another house cleaning sweep.  Led by Senior Matt Pope, the group of Pope, Pullano, and Dawson Pritchard went 1-2-3 in the 200 breaststroke, with times of 2:08.97, 2:17.44, and 2:18.54 respectively.  

With the crowd at a deafening level the women toped off the night and  took first and second in the nights final race, the 400 free relay in times of 3:41.91 and 3:56.18 respectively.  The Lady Tigersharks finished the night on a high beating the Lady Red Wave 146-96.

The men didn't quite get the perfect finish because of an A relay disqualification but that wasn't enough of a set back to keep them from beating cross town rival Henderson 126-114, getting revenge on last semester's loss at Henderson.

Tilley was proud of how the team performed, “From beginning to end, the OBU Tigersharks did not let the Red Wave catch a break win after win.  The ladies and gents outperformed the Red Wave even after having one of the toughest weeks of training prior to the meet.  I could not have been more proud and excited over the victory against HSU.  Conference is now in our sites and what we are gunning for.  It goes to show the level of commitment and love that this team has shown for the sport and our Head Coach Ryan Killackey as he continues his recovery.”

Next up for the Lady Tigersharks and Tigersharks is the NSISC Conference Championship meet in Cleveland, Mississippi on February 22.

Complete meet results can be found here