By Heather Fabritze
News Co-Editor
The Shorewomen and Shoremen hosted the York College Spartans on Saturday, Nov. 11 at their third home meet of the year for a non-conference head-to-head.
The former team narrowly beat their Pennsylvania opponents with a final score of 122-103, winning seven out of their overall 13 events.
Sophomore Lauren Paules largely led the women’s team in points, placing first in both of her individual events. She timed 2:02.32 in the 200-yard freestyle and 5:29.89 in the 500 freestyle.
“I feel excited that I got to score those points for our team to help us win what was a very close meet,” Paules said. “We are a small but mighty women’s team, so every point counted in order for us to win. We all knew what we had to do and I am very grateful that I got to contribute and be a part of this victory for our team.”
Freshman Gabby Bonds, juniors Ayana Davis and Courtney Poetsch, and senior Emma Schultz followed close behind Paules, each winning one event for the Shorewomen. Bonds took the 400 IM at 5:14.90, Davis won the 100 fly at 1:03.47, Poetsch scored first for the 200 fly at 2:29.24, and Schultz grabbed the 100 freestyle at 56.30.
Women’s swimming clinched a final win at the end of the meet with a 8:25.05 in the 800 freestyle relay. Their quartet consisted of Bonds, Paules, Schultz, and freshman Abby Adams.
The Shorewomen left the meet at a 2-5 record for the season, with York behind at a 0-5 overall loss.
Freshman Nathan Rawa dominated on the men’s side, leading them to a sweep over the Spartans at 148-95. He claimed three wins out of the three events that he competed in. This included victories in the 100-yard fly, 100 backstroke, and 200 backstroke.
According to Rawa, going into the meet the team expected it to be “very close,” so it was necessary that they all did what they could to contribute to an overall victory.
“I have always enjoyed competing in those situations knowing I had to step up to make a difference…The weekend before I watched Salisbury celebrate in our pool after they beat us and that really stuck with me,” Rawa said. “Knowing how important this meet was going to be for us, I was practicing and competing with a chip on my shoulder.”
Juniors and men’s team captains Zach Affeldt and Will Schmidt also contributed heavily to the win, taking two events each. Affeldt went 2:13.22 in the 200 breaststroke and 4:25.10 in the 400 IM, and Schmidt went 48.92 in the 100 freestyle and 1:47.21 in the 200 free.
The 100 breaststroke also went to the Shoremen, with junior Chase Hensen nabbing it at 59.20.
Rawa, Schmidt, Hensen, and senior Justin Fitzpatrick made up the winning quartet for the starting 200 medley relay, finishing at a time of 1:35.94.
The Shoremen ended the meet with an overall 3-4 in the season. York fell to 2-3.
Next up for WC men’s and women’s swim is their mid-season meet at the annual Franklin & Marshall Invite in Lancaster, Pa.
“Heading into mid-season, I am extremely excited to see all of the personal best swims as well as the cheering and extremely high energy of our team,” Paules said. “We have been working so hard since the beginning of the season and I cannot wait to see all that hard work pay off in the pool.”
Like Paules, Rawa is excited to rally and see the progress they make this weekend, especially as a first year heading into his first collegiate conference.
“If we all get behind one another and stay confident about our races, we as a team will make a lot of noise at midseason and, more importantly, conferences,” Rawa said.
The Shoremen and Shorewomen’s mid-season events will last for three days from Friday, Nov. 17 to Sunday, Nov. 19 at Franklin and Marshall’s Kunkel Aquatic Center.
Photo Caption: Sophomore distance freestyler Lauren Paules swims the 500 yard freestyle against York.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Hook