GUELPH, Ont. - The Gryphon swimming team hosted the Divisional Championships this past weekend at the W.F. Mitchell Centre. The Gryphon men's and women's team finished the two-day event in third place. 
  On the women's side the Gryphons made huge strides, placing as close to second place Toronto in points than ever in the past at this event. A total of four Gryphons have now qualified for the CIS Championships, making their qualifying times including Alisha Harricharan (Brampton, Ont.) and rookies Stephanie Papadedes (Guelph, Ont.), Terese Wey (Waterloo, Ont.) and Justine Van Herk (Ceder Springs, Ont.).
 
Leading the way for the women's team was third-year Alisha Harricharian, who won three of her four events (200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly) and also placed sixth in the 400m freestyle.
 
Rookie, Stephanie Papadedes placed second in the 200m individual medley with a very strong back split. She also placed second in the 200m backstroke which qualified her for the CIS championships fourth in the 400m individual medley. Another rookie, Justine Van Herk was first and qualified for the CIS championships in the 100m backstroke and placed third in the 50m backstroke.  Teammate Tess Wey placed fourth in the 50m freestyle which also qualified her for the CIS championships. She was fourth in the 100m freestyle and third in the 50 butterfly.
 
For the Gryphon men, it was a fifth-year Matthew Stephenson (Brantford, Ont.) and a first year Evan Van Moerkerke(Tillsonburg, Ont.) who lead the way.
 
First year rookie Van Moerkerke won all four of his events (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke). He is the fastest all time 50m freestyler in Gryphon history  breaking the 1990 title, held by Jeff Sumner.
 
Stephenson, continued his winning ways with a victory in two of his individual races including the 100m and 200m breaststroke. He also placed fourth in the 100m butterfly and sixth in the 400m individual medley.
 
Rookie John Carroll (Toronto) swam strong this weekend posting a third place performance in the 200m butterfly and a fifth place finish in the 50m butterfly. Derek Quick (Brantford, Ont.), a third year member of the team was second in the 1500m freestyle, fourth in the 400m freestyle and seventh in the 200m freestyle.
 
This Thursday the Gryphons race in Toronto at the University Challenge Cup