Wingate Sweeps Winter College Invite

The number 12 Wingate University men’s swimming team won the 2011 Winter College Invitational, co-hosted by the Bulldogs Wednesday at Daytona State College. Wingate won its second straight WCI crown, as the Bulldogs also won the 2009 event. The number 12 Wingate women were not denied, as the Bulldogs took the women’s title as well.

 

“I think that given the work load the swimmers are experiencing, we swam really well,” Wingate head coach Kirk Sanocki says. “This group has handled the ups and downs of the season remarkably well considering the youth of the team. I’m really anxious to see our results once we return to normal scheduling in the coming weeks.”

 

Wingate freshman Marko Blazevski (Skopje, Macedonia) won three individual events for the Bulldog men: the 200 Butterfly (1:56.13), the 500 Freestyle (4:43.03) and the 200 Individual Medley (1:59.29). Blazevski joined sophomore Cole Dutton (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and freshman Iaroslav Denysenko (Poltava, Ukraine) to touch first in the unique 1500 Freestyle Relay.

 

In his first meet as a Bulldog, Denysenko had a solid day. He won the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:43.82. Wingate junior Lee Sousa (Cornelius, N.C.) picked up a gold medal as he touched first in the 200 Backstroke (2:01.32). Sousa helped the Bulldogs conclude the day with a victory in the 200 Freestyle Relay.

 

For the Wingate women, freshman Alexandra Andrechuk (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) won two individual events: the 200 Backstroke (2:30.30) and the 200 Individual Medley (2:15.52). Senior Kelsey Trabue (Dexter, Mich.) won the 500 Freestyle with a time of 5:23.63. Freshman Beatrice Svensson (Lomma, Sweden) won the 100 Breaststroke with a 1:10.51 posting.

 

Depth was beneficial, as the Wingate men collected seven second-place finishes. The Bulldog women were close, as they touched second on six occasions Wednesday. Wingate was happy to return to familiar (and warm) territory, as the 2010 Winter College Invitational was cancelled due to bitterly cold weather.

 

The Wingate men’s and women’s swimming teams will resume action on Saturday, January 15 at Blue Grass Mountain Conference foe Lenoir-Rhyne University. Warren Wilson College will join the Bulldogs and the Bears for the 11 a.m. meet at the Shuford Physical Education Center Pool on the L-R campus.

 

2011 Winter College Invitational

Team Rankings

 

WOMEN

1 Wingate 576

2 Cumberlands (Ky.) 510

3 Daytona State 421

4 Rollins 361

5 Bridgeport (Conn.) 341

 

MEN

1 Wingate 619

2 Daytona State 538.5

3 Cumberlands (Ky.) 503

4 Rollins 307.5

5 Bridgeport (Conn.) 298