Box Score

            Valparaiso defeated Butler but dropped two close meets to Saint Louis and Evansville on Sunday afternoon as the Crusaders opened the 2008-2009 swimming and diving season in Fishers, Ind.

            The Crusaders defeated the Bulldogs 135-61 while falling 159-69 to Saint Louis and 143-79 against the Purple Aces.

            The Crusaders opened the meet, and the season, in triumphant fashion winning the 400 medley relay.  The team of Shaunna Dangremond (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino H.S.), Amy Andracki (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.), Rachel Majercik (Schaumburg, Ill./Conant H.S.), and Jaclyn Krause (Rochester, Mich./Notre Dame Prep H.S.) touched the wall in 4:04.30, more than two seconds in front of runner-up Saint Louis.

            Andracki also recorded an individual victory on the afternoon.  The sophomore won the 200 breaststroke by more than a quarter of a second with a time of 2:30.81.

            Dangremond and Krause also posted top-three finishes on the day for the Crusaders.  Dangremond recorded the 10^th fastest 200 individual medley time in Valpo history with her third place effort in a time of 2:17.06.  Krause finished in the same position in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.83 seconds, just .01 seconds shy of runner-up.

            Grace Arnold (Glendora, Calif./Glendora H.S.)  earned two third place finishes on the day for the Crusaders.  She began with a time of 11:07.80 in the 1000 freestyle, then came back and posted a mark of 5:20.40 in the 500 free.

            Valparaiso (1-2) will return to action on Friday, October 17 for its home opener.  The Crusaders will entertain Xavier (Ohio) at the Athletics-Recreation Center pool beginning at 5 p.m.