By Dominic Rapposelli
Sports Editor
Washington College Swimming jumps out to early success as the season kicked off on Oct. 19. The Shoremen finished third out of four centennial conference teams at a quad meet hosted by Franklin and Marshall College. The other two teams present were Ursinus and Dickinson Colleges.
Standout performances from the Shoremen helped them get a critical early win. Sophomore Nathan Rawa took care of the 100 yard backstroke with a first place finish (52.03). Rawa also took home second place in the 100-yard butterfly (52.13).
“This is the best team this program has had in recent history, so I wanted to make sure I was ready to go. With that being said, I am very happy with how this season has started. I am hitting my best in-season times ever, and the training has felt really good,” Rawa said.
Senior Chase Henson grabbed second in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:00.68). Fellow senior Zach Affeldt also enjoyed the opening meet, taking second in the 200 breaststroke, (2:13.16), third in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.72), and 200 individual medley (2:03.46).
“We’ve beaten a few teams so far that, you know, in years past, has kind of been difficult for us to beat. And I think big props to that, it’s just the freshmen that we bring in. They’re hungry, they’re motivated to swim, and honestly, they definitely have brought the energy that we need for this season,” senior Justin Fitzpatrick said.
The Shoremen also bested the McDaniel Green Terror. Rawa took home a pair of events, winning the 50 yard freestyle (21.68) and the 100 yard butterfly (51.60).
Sophomore James Hackett also took first place in dual events. He led the way in the 100-yard freestyle (49.92) and the 200 freestyle (1:49.70).
The Shoremen sit at 2-2 through the first four match-ups of the season.
The team has cruised to a 3-1 record through four opponents. The team also swam in a quad meet consisting of Franklin and Marshall, Ursinus, and Dickinson.
The Shorewomen only fell to Franklin and Marshall, as they bested the other teams at the event.
Senior Kylee Smith brought home the 200-yard butterfly (2:15.03) and was second in the 100 yard freestyle (54.61).
The freshmen for WC had a statement showing as well. Brooke Bailey netted second in the 200 freestyle (2:00.93) and 200 backstroke (2:13.86), while Vanessa Fry captured second in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:11.55) and 200 yard breaststroke (2:41.09). Mackenzie Gorman gained second in the 100 butterfly (59.54). Julia Banker took third in the 200 backstroke (2:14.62) to give the Shorewomen two of the top three performers in the event.
Junior Lauren Paules captured third in the 500 yard freestyle (5:30.56) and 1000 yard freestyle (11:16.28).
The Shorewomen would follow up their performance with a home win versus the McDaniel College Green Terror.
Bailey took home dual events, winning the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.82) and 200 individual medley (2:13.61).
Three conference wins help the Shorewomen climb the ladder early in the season, as they possess an early advantage in postseason standings.
Photo by Darius Kesey.
Photo Caption: The Shorewomen jump out top a 3-1 start after beating three Centennial Conference opponents.