By Jordan Fairchild
Elm Staff Writer
On Saturday, Jan. 29, the Washington College men’s and women’s swim teams competed in a home meet at Casey Swim Center against Centennial Conference opponent, the Franklin & Marshall College Diplomats.
Six seniors were honored at the meet: Nate Braddock for the Shoremen and Alison Buckwalter, Teresa Draves, Anna Hall, Emily Homer, and Alexa Luecke for the Shorewomen.The Shoremen were defeated by the Diplomats, 188–73.
Junior Gage Mandrell won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:01.24. Mandrell was also runner-up in the 100 breaststroke with a personal-best and eighth fastest in program history time of 59.25. In the 200 breaststroke, Mandrell also placed second with a time of 2:14.20. This time was the fastest by any Shoreman this year.
Sophomore Justin Morris was the runner-up in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:04.51. In the 100 butterfly, sophomore Bianti Danaj took second place with a time of 54.23.
The 200 medley relay team, composed of Danaj, Mandrell, freshman Chase Hensen, and sophomore Benjamin Wilson came in second place with a tie of 1:36.65.
The 400 medley relay team made up of Danaj, Wilson, freshman Zach Affeldt, and freshman William Schmidt were the runners-up with a time of 3:24.94.
The Shoremen turned in a few third-place performances from Affeldt, Braddock, and Danaj as well against the Diplomats.
The Shorewomen were also defeated by the Diplomats 186-75.
Freshman Emily Iampieri won the 200 freestyle with her second-fastest time of the season, 2:00.62. Draves was a runner-up for the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:20.11. Freshman Kylee Smith was a runner-up for the Shorewomen in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:21.05.
Sophomore Anna Miller was a runner-up in the 50 freestyle with a time of 26.16.
The 400 free relay team for the Shorewomen, which included Draves, freshman Lilly Hartmann, sophomore Kennedy Jones, and sophomore Laurel Krause, finished in second place with a time of 3:48.19.
The Shorewomen rounded out their accomplishments with a handful of third-place performances from sophomore Emma Schultz, sophomore Kenley Hewitt, Hartmann, Luecke, and Hall.
“With two weeks left in the season before the Centennial Conference Championships, we are turning our focus and fine-tuning our racing to have a historical meet,” sophomore Jay Dadhania said.
The Centennial Conference Championships begin on Thursday, Feb. 17, for both the Shoremen and the Shorewomen. The meet will take place at Franklin & Marshall College, but times and opponents are to be determined.