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WSU swim stars set for home finale

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer 11:20 PM Thursday, January 26, 2012

FAIRBORN — Over the years, Wright State swimming and diving coach Sion Brinn has watched his current seniors become more active in leadership with their teammates.

Now he’s hoping they can finish their seasons strong.

The Raiders will host their final home event of the season on Saturday when Xavier visits at 11 a.m. The team’s eight seniors will compete at home for the last time, including a pair of record-setting swimmers in Hermanus Botha and Molley Pipkorn.

“Their contribution to the team is immense,” Brinn said. “They do the things all coaches like their athletes to do.”

Botha, from Krugersdrop, South Africa, holds three individual school records, in the 50-yard freestyle (20.07 seconds), 100 freestyle (43.88) and 200 freestyle (1:37.07), and is part of record-holding relays in the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle.

Pipkorn, from Hartland, Wis., holds the individual records in the 200 freestyle (1:49.91), 500 freestyle (4:54.65) and 1,000 freestyle (10:10.73), while swimming with record-holding relays in four of the five events available: 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 400 medley.

It’s a chunk of experience the Raiders hope to build through Saturday’s home meet, a road matchup against Cincinnati on Feb. 4 and then the Horizon League Championships beginning Feb. 22 in Brown Deer, Wis.

“Their winning percentage has been well over 75 percent in dual meets, and that’s in four years,” Brinn said. “They have been two great careers.”

Former recruit to Tennessee: Former WSU recruit Cory Stanton, a point guard from Springfield, Tenn., who signed a letter of intent with the Raiders as a high school senior, has enrolled at Tennessee and walked on to the basketball team. He will be eligible next season.

Stanton was released from his letter of intent to follow former WSU coach Brad Brownell to Clemson. Due to deaths in the family, Stanton transferred to Lipscomb University in Nashville after one season, and he has since left for Tennessee.

Other former Raiders: Kegan Clark, a sophomore guard who transferred to Indiana University Southeast from WSU after last season, is averaging 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 16.2 minutes per game for the 15-6 Grenadiers.

Darian Cartharn, who missed last season at WSU after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament and transferred to Salt Lake Community College in Utah, leads the 16-4 team in scoring at 9.9 points per game while adding 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Tennis sweep: The Raiders swept the season’s initial Horizon League men’s and women’s tennis players of the week honors, with Hayden Joblin (men) and Alex Bastock (women) winning the awards. Joblin has started his season 4-0, while Bastock is 2-0.

Men’s soccer commitment: Spencer Semple, a four-year starter at goalkeeper for the Canton GlenOak High School boys soccer team and a two-time All-Ohio first team selection, will play for Wright State, the Canton Repository reported this week.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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