PRESIDENTS OPEN 2008-09 CAMPAIGN WITH SWEEP OF FSU

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College swimming and diving squads opened their 2008-09 seasons by sweeping Frostburg State University on Wednesday evening at the Henry Memorial Natatorium.  The W&J men notched a 136-85 victory, while the women’s squad earned a 129-89 triumph.  

 

The men were led by freshman Michael Boutwell (Winchester, Va./John Handley), who collected two victories, including a school-record time of 10:10.50 in the 1000 freestyle.  His time was three seconds faster then the previous record set by Andrew Pratt in 2001.  Boutwell was also victorious in the 500 freestyle (4:57.12).  

 

The W&J women were paced by senior Brittany Bertoli (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and freshman Brittany Vogel (Butler, Pa./Butler), who both collected three individual wins.  Bertoli also led the 200 freestyle relay squad (1:46.33) to a win to total four victories on the evening.  

 

Bertoli claimed the 200 butterfly (2:20.15), 500 freestyle (5:37.48) and 1000 freestyle (11:33.71), while Vogel earned first-place laurels in the 200 freestyle (2:01.21), 200 breaststroke (2:34.14) and 200 IM (2:15.14).  

 

Junior Mark Sirkoch (New Kensington, Pa./Plum) and sophomore Brandon Smith (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) teamed for a win in the 200 medley relay (1:40.64) and then grabbed multiple individual triumphs.  Sirkoch took first in the 100 (1:03.40) and 200 (2:21.47) breaststroke events, while Smith won three events; the 100 (56.85) and 200 (2:01.05) backstrokes as well as the 200 IM (2:03.83).  

 

Freshman Wade Blom (New Hope, Pa./ Bolles School) swam legs on the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle (1:30.70) relay teams, then earned first place in the 100 butterfly (54.64).  Freshman Jonathan Weeks (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) posted a first-place finish in the 200 butterfly (2:02.68).  

 

Senior Susanne Seward (Fairview, Pa./Fairview) continued to shine for the W&J women as she swam a leg on the winning 200 medley relay (1:57.88,) while also placing first in the 100 butterfly (1:04.36).  

 

Sophomore Chrissy Brant (Latrobe, Pa./Latrobe) touched first in the 100 backstroke (1:04.15) and joined Seward on the 200 medley relay, while freshman C.J. Corcoran (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) won the 50 (25.01) and 100 (55.18) freestyle events.

 

The Washington & Jefferson women return to action on Saturday at the Chatham Invitational; however, the men are idle until next Saturday when hosting Baldwin-Wallace at the Henry Memorial Natatorium for a non-conference dual meet (1:00 pm).