Valparaiso’s men’s swim team finished in sixth place to conclude the Horizon League Championships on Saturday at Busbey Natatorium in Cleveland, Ohio, wrapping up the 2010-2011 season.

The Crusaders scored 117 points over the course of the four-day meet.  Milwaukee edged out UIC 820-793 for the team title with Cleveland State finishing third with 696 points.  Wright State (491) was fourth while Green Bay finished fifth (481).

Valpo finished the meet with a sixth place effort in the 400 freestyle relay.  David Sivak (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.), Trevor Trimpe (New Palestine, Ind./Connersville H.S.), Alex Cox (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North H.S.), and Russell Deghi (Sebestopol, Calif./Analy H.S.) posted a time season’s best time of 3:14.25.  For Sivak, he was one of two Crusaders who closed their collegiate careers on Saturday.

Trimpe moved into fourth place on the all-time list with his 16th place finish in the finals of the 200 breaststroke turning in a time of 2:12.83.  Toshko Ganzorigt (Ulaanbatar, Mongolia/Orchlon H.S.), another senior closing his career, had a collegiate best time of 2:31.14.  Travis Simmons (Angola, Ind./Angola H.S.) swam the event as an exhibition and earned a collegiate best time of 2:22.19.

In the 100 freestyle, Deghi posted the 10th fastest mark in Valpo history with his 18th place finish overall, turning in a time of 48.21 seconds.  Cox and Chris Rudolf (Middletown, Ohio/Bishop Fenwick H.S.) added collegiate best times in the event touching the wall in 50.34 and 50.92 seconds respectively.  Thomas Patrick (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead H.S.) had a season’s best mark of 51.56 seconds while Ryan Burling (Morris, Ill./Morris Community H.S.) posted a career time of 51.82 seconds.  Simmons and Ian Jones (Lexington, Ohio/Lexington H.S.) added a pair of personal bests as well at 52.39 and 54.06 seconds respectively, giving Valpo seven swimmers in the event with personal best marks.

Steve Booth (Saint Joseph, Mich./Saint Joseph H.S.) earned a 16th place finish as the Crusaders’ lone competitor in the mile with a season’s best time of 18:17.00.  Kevin Fedde (Fort Collins, Colo./Heritage Christian H.S.) did the same in the 200 backstroke with his career best time of 2:01.73 in the finals to place 16th overall.