NCAA Div. III: Randolph-Macon Sweeps Gallaudet; Women Finish 10-0 -- February 4, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 3. BOTH the men's and women's swimming teams from Randolph-Macon College (Division III, Ashland, Virginia) ended the regular season with victories in dual meet action against Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. on February 1.

In women's action, R-MC junior Elizabeth Belch and freshmen Erin Ewalt, Tiffany Pearsall, and Amanda Fridley each scored double victories to lead the Yellow Jacket women's team to a 102-43 win and an undefeated record of 10-0.

Belch, who was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference swimmer of the week on Jan. 27 after a 24.98 school record in the 50 free, notched wins in the 100 and 200 free (57.67 and 2:08.64).

Ewalt won the 200 I.M. in 2:13.89 and lowered her own school record in the 200 back to 2:10.05, which also qualified as an NCAA Division III "B" cut.

Pearsall took the 50 free in 25.72 and prevailed in a close battle with Bison sophomore Stephanie Danner in the 500 free. Pearsall, a freestyle standout from Virginia Beach, lowered her own school record of 5:16.12 to 5:14.10. Danner finished in 5:18.79, which bettered her own Gallaudet school record of 5:19.97. The Pittsford, New York native also won the 1650 free in 18:28.03.

Sophomore teammate Hailey Hime, who won the 200 fly in 2:30.60, was the other individual winner for Gallaudet. R-MC's Fridley touched first in a seasonal best time of 2:44.38 in the 200 breaststroke and was a part of the winning 200 medley relay team.

In men's action, R-MC claimed a 70-31 victory over Gallaudet and senior Nick Griffith led the Yellow Jacket effort with wins in the 50 free (23.98) and 200 breaststroke (2:28.41). Griffith was also second in the 1650 with a 19:48.07 behind Gallaudet sophomore Raymond Clark's 17:38.37.

Griffith's time in the mile was a new R-MC school record, breaking Ira Spritzer's 1969 mark of 20:07.60. The R-MC men's team, which returned to varsity status this past September after a 30-year hiatus, finished the season with a 2-4 record.

Both the R-MC men's and women's teams will next compete at the Atlantic States Championships in Radford, Virginia, Feb. 21-23. Gallaudet concludes its season at the Capital Athletic Conference Championship at Mary Washington, Feb. 14-16.