Limestone Falls to Gardner-Webb

Limestone College men’s and women’s swimming teams lost to Gardner-Webb University (NCAA Division I) on Friday evening at the Timken Aquatic Center. The Lady Saints lost 163-99 as the Saints fell 192-70.
 
“The team swam very well,” commented Limestone Head Coach Robert Gecan. “We had a lot of great swims hidden in the score which don’t reflect the several close second-place finishes. Eventually the depth of Gardner-Webb’s roster won out.”
 
“Our teams, who were led by our captains, Gilles Gutnecht and Molly Reichwald, really battled hard and made the Bulldogs earn their victory,” Gecan pointed out.
 
On the women’s side, Ines Speranda had an excellent early season swim as she finished the 1000-yard freestyle in 11:17.24. She went on to complete the 200 butterfly in 2:21.97. Marta Stepien earned an NCAA “B” cut time with her first-place finish in the 200 breaststroke (2:25.12). She missed recording another “B” cut time by only two seconds in the 200 individual medley (2:13.10). Jenna Arington came close to matching her personal best time in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:14.70. Isabell Nystrom also recorded a “B” cut time as she came in second in the 1000 freestyle. She posted a time of 10:35.60, just .25 seconds behind the first-place competitor. Joanna Mannon, who continued to improve despite being injured, posted a time of 1:11.85 in the 100 breaststroke to place fourth. Nathania LaPierre had a great third swim of the evening in the 200 backstroke (2:17.83). Anna Freeman improved her performance as she swam the 1000 free in 11:05.25. Renee Pouchet recorded second-place finishes in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle as she recorded times of 1:00.58 and 25.74, respectively.
 
Limestone’s Stefan Lackner, Ben Williams, Brian Kaylor, and Lance Maxwell finished second in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3:39.58.  The Saints 800 freestyle relay team also finished second with a time of 7:17.48. Members of that team included Gilles Gutnecht, Blake Schaeffer, Nikolaus Thomas, and Gene Magliaro.
 
Lackner went on to win the 200 backstroke (1:59.03) and the 200 individual medley (2:00.98. He also finished second in the 100 backstroke (55.03). Gutnecht had three first-place finishes as he won the 200 freestyle (1:44.28), 100 freestyle (48.17), and 500 freestyle events (4:47.34).  Lance Maxwell finished first in the 50 freestyle (22.51). Nikolaus Thomas had great early season swims as he finished the 500 freestyle in 5:03.60 and the 200 backstroke in 2:03.78.
 
Limestone hosts Wingate University on Saturday, November 14 at 2 p.m. at the Timken Center.