Washington College Sweeps Salisbury

Sixteen-hundredths of a second made all the difference as the Washington College men's swim team extended its winning streak against Eastern Shore rival Salisbury University to 18 meets in a row with a 107-98 victory over the host Sea Gulls Wednesday tonight in Salisbury.

Washington (1-1) held a 96-92 lead in the meet heading into the final event - the 200-meter freestyle relay - and needed a first-place finish in the event to hold on for the victory. Junior Chris Soper (Towson, MD/Loyola Blakefield), junior Dylan Pollock (Savannah, GA/Benedictine Military), senior Phil Munger (Devon, PA/Conestoga), and senior Dan Wentzel (Exton, PA/Henderson) delivered, winning the event in 1:41.88, .16 seconds better than Salisbury.

Visiting Washington College won every event en route to a 138-67 win over host Salisbury University tonight in non-conference women's swimming. The Shorewomen (4-1) posted their 22nd straight win over their Eastern Shore rivals with the victory.

Washington's win in the meet's opening event, the 200-meter medley relay, was also a big factor in the victory as freshman Nick Longworth (Media, PA/Strath Haven), freshman Austin Auger (McLean, VA/Langley), Pollock, and Wentzel won the race in 1:53.76.

Soper won two individual events for the Shoremen, taking the 50-meter freestyle in 25.49 and the 100-meter freestyle (correct time not available). Longworth was first in the 100-meter backstroke in 1:03.59 and second in the 200-meter freestyle in 2:04.62. Pollock was first in the 100-meter butterfly (1:02.18), Auger won the 200-meter individual medley (2:22.39), and Wentzel was a winner in the 400-meter freestyle (4:29.97).

Sophomore Matt Violette (Westbrook, ME/Westbrook) added second-place finishes in the 800-meter freestyle (9:32.23) and 400-meter freestyle (4:34.35), while Munger was second in the 100-meter butterfly (1:03.04) and freshman Johnny Helenek (Gaithersburg, MD/Gaithersburg) finished second in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:11.27).

Sophomore Rachel Glasser (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) won three individual events for Washington, winning the 800-meter freestyle in 9:37.53, the 200-meter freestyle in 2:14.83, and the 400-meter freestyle in 4:38.29. Freshman Jenna Moore (Catonsville, MD/Mount de Sales) and junior Kathy Gerhart (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville Area) each won two individual events as Moore took the 100-meter freestyle (1:02.18) and 100-meter breaststroke (1:18.08) and Gerhart finished first in the 50-meter freestyle (28.51) and the 100-meter butterfly (1:07.46).

Freshman Kelly Dunbar (Williamsburg, VA/Lafayette) won the 200-meter individual medley in 2:33.78 and was second in the 400-meter freestyle (4:50.86) and 100-meter breaststroke (1:20.02). Freshman Morgan Phillips (Charlottesville, VA/Albermarle) added a first-place finish in the 100-meter backstroke in 1:12.08.

Washington also won both relays as senior Kimber Shoemaker (Berwyn, PA/Conestoga), Moore, Gerhart, and freshman Laura Risell (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) won the 200-meter medley relay in 2:07.45 and freshman Ellen Liebenow (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge), Risell, Phillips, and freshman Mary Stroman (Bala Cynwyd, PA/Friends Central) won the 200-meter freestyle relay in 1:57.80.

Stroman also took second place in the 200-meter freestyle (2:16.69) and 100-meter freestyle (1:57.80).

The Shoremen and Shorewomen return to action Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. non-conference meet at St. Mary's (MD).