RADNOR, Pa. – Barely 12 hours after returning from their winter trip to Florida, the Ursinus College swimming teams cruised to non-conference victories at Cabrini, with the men winning 169-54 and the women claiming a 142-94 decision.
Between the two teams, the Bears won all but two of the day's 28 events, several of which went to exhibition scoring when the outcome was well in hand. With just over a month remaining until the Centennial Conference championship, Ursinus received contributions up and down the lineup as a number of swimmers saw their first action of the dual meet season.
Freshman Daniel Powell registered individual victories in the 200 fly (2:06.87) and 500 free (4:58.57), and fellow rookie Thomas Rogers picked up his first victory in the 100 fly (57.91).
Sophomore Devin Nielsen took first in the 50 free with a time of 23.67 seconds, with junior Carl Christoph placing second in 24.81. Freshman Jake Menzer won his lone individual event, touching the wall first in the 100 free with a mark of 49.53. Freshman Samuel Sjosten was third in that event and took second in the 100 breast (1:05.78), where senior Spencer Collopy was third (1:05.94). Senior William Benn (1:51.09) just edged out sophomore Daniel Becker (1:51.16) in the 200 free, and sophomore Thomas Bantley won the 1650 free with a clocking of 18:15.61.
Sophomore Travis Venables (59.26) led a 1-2-3 finish in the 100 back, with sophomore Kevin Gill (59.58) in second and senior Marcus Wagner (59.78) in third. Senior Dylan Cooper prevailed in the 200 back with a time of 2:09.16, just ahead of Bantley in second.
Freshman Cole Connelly won his first individual event with a 2:23.61 in the 200 breast and contributed to an Ursinus victory in the 400 medley relay alongside junior Colin McNamara, freshman Casey Lear, and Christoph (3:51.79). Menzer teamed with Becker, freshman Jared Krawetz, and Collopy to record a mark of 3:24.43 in the 400 free relay.
On the women's side, sophomore Clara Baker was a winner in the 100 free (55.87), and sophomore Gabriella Timuscuk took the 200 free (2:04.44). Freshman Haley Sturla was first to touch in the 500 free (5:23.41), with junior Meggie Leitz taking second in 5:25.13. Senior Allison Emick captured a victory in the 1650 free with a mark of 19:01.10.
Leitz won the 100 back in a time of 1:03.30, and junior Katherine Porter prevailed in the 200 back (2:20.84).
Junior Sydney Gundersen (1:12.24) and sophomore Peyten Lyons (1:13.81) were first and second in the 100 breast, and junior Olivia Tierney took the 200 breast in 2:31.72.
Senior Alexandra Hemp claimed the 100 fly in 1:03.03, and classmate Catherine Wilson was a winner in the 200 fly at 2:29.49. Lyons (4:55.72) and Timuscuk (4:58.77) turned in solid performances in the 400 IM.
Porter teamed with Sturla, Lyons, and Leitz to take the 400 medley relay, and Gundersen led off the winning 400 free relay team along with Baker, Hemp, and freshman Grace Emig.
The swimming teams get right back in the pool tomorrow, when the Bears welcome Albright to Elliott Pool for a 1:00 p.m. dual.
