No. 4 Washington University Beat Wabash, 122-82

The fourth-ranked Washington University men’s swim team took first place in eight of 13 events to defeat Wabash College (4-3), 122-82, at the Millstone Pool in St. Louis, Mo., on Wednesday night. The win improved the Bears’ 2008-09 dual match record to 4-0.

Junior Alex Beyer and sophomore David Chao both took first place in a pair of individual events to lead Washington University on Wednesday night. Beyer won the 200-yard freestyle race with a time of 1:43.99 and he also took the top-spot in the 200-yard butterfly, finishing in 1:57.60.

Chao’s top finishes came in a pair of freestyle events. He won the 50-yard freestyle in 21.76, and the 100-yard freestyle in 48.23.

Junior Brian Kushner won the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:07.27, senior Kevin Leckey was the top finisher in the 200-yard backstroke, finishing in 2:00.13, and freshman Chris Valach rounded out the Bears’ individual winners by taking the 500-yard freestyle in 4:49.61.

Evan Rhinesmith led a Wabash sweep in the 200 breaststroke, winning in 2:17.25. Paul Beuscher took second place (2:19.25), while Jordan Extine was third (2:28.97) and Jim Leuck was fourth (2:31.63).

The Washington University men’s and women’s swim teams will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 16, for the two-day Washington University Invitational meet, which will serve as the final home competition of the year for both teams. Friday night’s action is slated to begin at 6 p.m.

Little Giant Tankers Lose in St. Louis
Wabash traveled to the fourth-ranked Washington University-St. Louis swimming and diving team’s home pool Wednesday night, but came out on the short end of 122-82 score in dual meet action.

The Little Giants fell behind early when the Battling Bears took first and second place in the first three events. Elijah Sanders scored the first victory for Wabash with a win in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:21.49. Evan Rhinesmith added a third-place finish in the 400 IM, touching the wall in 4:29.50.

Craig Vetor took second in the 100 freestyle (49.01), with Jordan Blackwell finishing fourth (50.11). Eric Vaughn was second in the 200 backstroke (2:00.59) while teammate Nick Rockefeller finished in fourth place (2:05.64). Chad Woods added a third-place finish in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:59.71. Robert Fozkos grabbed fourth place, touching in 5:03.25.

Rhinesmith led a Wabash sweep in the 200 breaststroke, winning in 2:17.25. Paul Beuscher took second place (2:19.25), while Jordan Extine was third (2:28.97) and Jim Leuck was fourth (2:31.63). The Little Giants closed the meet by taking the top-three spots in the 400 free relay. Vaughn, Vetor, Fozkos, and Chris Kermin won with a time of 3:19.98. Steve Zajac and Adam Current joined Rockefeller and Extine to take second place (3:40.64). Brent Graham, William Cheng, Brian Graham, and Woods combined for a third-place finish (3:50.76).

Wabash returns to action Friday evening with a road meet at the University of Indianapolis.