Tampa Women, Wingate Men Capture Bluegrass

The Wingate University men’s swimming team captured the conference title for the second year in a row Saturday, winning the 2009 Blue Grass Mountain Conference Championships at the Mecklenburg County Aquatics Center (MCAC) pool in downtown Charlotte.  The University of Tampa women’s swimming team registered its first Bluegrass Mountain Conference championship, capping the ten point win over Johns Hopkins with a win in the 400 Free Relay.

The Bulldog men posted 657.5 points. BGMC newcomer the University of Tampa was second with 552 points. The Wingate women’s swimming team was fourth, notching 502 points. Tampa won the women’s crown with 657 points.

The Wingate men finished strong, recording 12 All-BGMC swims on Saturday (11 individual, one relay). The Bulldog women posted four All-BGMC performances Saturday.

Next on the horizon for Wingate is the 2009 NCAA Division II men’s and women’s swimming and diving championships. The 2009 national event takes place March 11-14 at the University of Houston. The championships are a part of the NCAA Division II Sports Festival.

In women’s action, Tampa won with 657 points, edging Johns Hopkins (647), Savannah College of Art and Design (543), Wingate (502) and Limestone (294). Wingate won the men’s event with 657.5 points as Tampa (552), Washington & Lee (547), Limestone (498.5) and Savannah College of Art and Design (266) rounded out the top five.

In the final day, Ellie Eshleman won the 200 Back for the Spartans with a time of 2:04.12. Teammate Heather MacLennan was second in the event. Lindsay Calimer championed the 200 Fly in 2:02.72 while Emilee Margiotta was second. The Spartans also won the 400 Free Relay as the team of  Allison Vetter, Stephanie Branham, Hannah Hudson and Jessie Bardin turned in a 3:27.67 showing.

Chris O’Linger won the 1,650 Free for Tampa’s men. O’Linger won in 15:26.65 as teammates Hunter Lineback and Tyler Furrer helped UT sweep the top three in the event. Daniel Hernandez also won the 200 Fly in 1:51.08 while Roman Dagesh and Blaine Bess were second and third respectively.

Tampa now sets its sights on the final event of the season, the 2009 NCAA II Championships. The event will feature representation from both UT teams. The championships will take place on Mar. 11-14 in Houston, Texas.

MEN’S SWIMMING FOURTH AT BLUEGRASS MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS; LADY SAINTS FINISH 5TH
The Limestone College men’s swim team finished fourth at the end of competition on Saturday at the Bluegrass Mountain Conference Championships while the Lady Saints were fifth. The event was held at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center. 

Craig Jordens (Durban, South Africa) won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 43.38 and Carmen Adams (Conway, S.C.) won the 200-yard breaststroke after recording a time of 2:22.74. Limestone’s 400 freestyle relay team of Matthew Parsonage (Durban, South Africa), Gilles Gutnecht (Marsville, France), Anders Melin (Karlstad, Sweden), and Jordens finished first (2:58.04).
 
Isabell Nystrom (Stockholm, Sweden) finished second in the 1650-yard freestyle on Saturday with a time of 17:34.12. Jenna Arington (Pittsford, N.Y.) was seventh in the 200-yard backstroke (2:10.91). Limestone’s 400 freestyle relay team of Arington, Marija Grubic (Split, Croatia), Nystrom, and Molly Reichwald (Atlanta, Ga.) were fifth (3:38.02).
 
On the men’s side, Linvern Lim (Port Dickson, Malaysia) took ninth in the 200-yard backstroke finals (1:54.09). Gutnecht was fourth in the 100 freestyle (45.81).  Chad McKenzie (Durban, South Africa) was third in the 200 breaststroke (2:05.38).
 
Limestone will compete at the University of Georgia Bulldog Invitational on February 28 through March 1 in Athens, Ga.

Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 37 
1. University of Tampa               657  
2. Johns Hopkins University          647 
3. Savannah College of Art & Design  543  
4. Wingate University M&W            502 
5. Limestone College                 294  
6. Rollins College                   185 
7. Transylvania University           175  
8. Catawba College Indians           136 
9. Fairmont State University         121 
10. West Virginia Wesleyan College    118
11. Lenoir Rhyne University            89 
12. Florida Southern College           76
T13. Saint Leo University               44 
T13. Wheeling Jesuit University         44 1
5. Pfeiffer University                22

Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 38 
1. Wingate University M&W          657.5  
2. University of Tampa               552 
3. Washington & Lee University       547  
4. Limestone College               498.5 
5. Savannah College of Art & Design  266  
6. Rollins College                   259 
7. Transylvania University           196  
8. Catawba College Indians           180 
9. Pfeiffer University               112 
10. West Virginia Wesleyan College    106
11. Florida Southern College           86 
12. Saint Leo University               84
13. Fairmont State University          61 
14. Wheeling Jesuit University         40