Men Down Gardner-Webb as Swimming and Diving Pulls in 17 Firsts Saturday

Saturday, January 27

Davidson, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

Gardner-Webb

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Men Down Gardner-Webb as Swimming and Diving Pulls in 17 Firsts Saturday

1/27/2018 5:44:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

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DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson swimming and diving wrapped up its dual meet season Saturday, hosting Gardner-Webb on Senior Day in Cannon Pool. The men were victorious, picking up their second victory of the season, defeating the Runnin' Bulldogs 165-97. The women also battled, but fell 157-123, as the two teams combined for 17 first places and a total of 22 second and third-place finishes.

Prior to the meet, the Wildcats honored the nine members of their senior class. Eight of the nine went on to place in the Top Three in one or more of their events.

"The teams looked great today," head coach John Young said. "It's always fun to swim fast at home and it's especially enjoyable to see the team honor the seniors by putting great effort into their races on Senior Day. As if on queue, the seniors were notably impressive today. As we focus our energy on final preparations for the upcoming championship, I'm optimistic that we can build on the potential that we saw from the team today."

Leading the way for the men were veterans Clay Resweber and Taylor Willenbring and sophomore Crossan Cooper, who each took home a pair of firsts. Willenbring and Resweber combined to sweep the freestyle events, as Willenbring took the 50 and 100 (21.46, 47.57) and Resweber won the 200 (1:41.35) and 500 (4:36.92) freestyle events. Cooper swept the individual medleys with times of 1:55.71 (200 IM) and 4:03.66 (400 IM) and wrapped up his day with another Top Three placement, coming in second in the 200 breast (2:08.29).

The 'Cats pulled off the sweep in the 200 free, as sophomore Ian Hentenaar and junior Matt Bode touched in right behind Resweber at 1:44.10 and 1:44.58, respectively.

The women were also successful in the event, as sophomore Frances Resweber carried on the family tradition, taking first with a time of 1:56.74. Freshman Chelsea Savage finished third (1:58.48), while Resweber also finished third in the 500 free (5:14.51).

Also recording a strong performance for the women was senior diver Hayley Atkins, picking up firsts in both the one-meter and three-meter events. Classmate Sarah Coats continued her season-long dominance in the breaststroke, winning both the 100 and 200 (1:04.96, 2:23.02), while also taking third in the 200 IM (2:09.84). Coats was just five hundredths off of her personal-best mark in the 100 breast.

Freshman Sarah Helen Shepherd delivered a strong performance, registering a win in the 200 back (2:07.06), and taking third in the 400 IM (4:36.36).

On the men's side, rookie Kevin Andrews, sophomores Alex Strasser and Brian Hynes, and senior Riley League each brought home victory in their events. Andrews scored in the 100 back (52.40), Strasser in the 100 fly (50.96), Hynes in the 200 back (1:55.59), and League in the 200 fly (1:54.00). Hynes and League also added to their haul with second-place marks (100 back (53.00); 200 IM (1:57.03), respectively).

The men and women each took home first in the 200 medley relays, while the men's B placed third in the same event. The women's top fleet took second in the 200 free relay, while the men were victorious.

Other Top Three Finishers
Alexis LeMone      So. 2nd      100 Back 59.01
                                          2nd       100 Free      54.53
Olivia Stanley          So. 2nd      50 Free          24.84
                                          3rd      100 Fly          59.70
Emily Bassett           So. 3rd      100 Breast 1:08.86
Anabelle Durham Jr. 3rd      200 Back 2:12.49
Maggie Farrell          Jr.      3rd      100 Free 55.04

Cole Riggan          Sr. 3rd      400 IM      4:06.57
                                          3rd      500 Free 4:44.34
Patrick Kelly          So. 3rd 200 Back 1:57.91
Drake Wielar          Fr.      3rd      100 Breast 1:00.88

Davidson will next dive into action on February 14 at the Atlantic 10 Championships in Gambier, Ohio.