Navy vs. Maryland-Baltimore County

BALTIMORE, Maryland, October 21. THE Navy swimming and diving teams combined to win 23 of 32 events on the night as both programs recorded victories over UMBC Friday evening in Baltimore. The Mids won the women’s meet by the count of 150-144, while the Navy men recorded a 157-132 victory.

In the women’s meet, after UMBC (1-1) edged Navy (2-1) by less than eight-tenths of a second to win the 200 medley relay, Katie Davidson (Jr., Geneva, Fla.) and Sam Brennan (Fr., Stillwell, Kan.) comfortably placed first and second, respectively, in the 1000 freestyle race. Davidson posted a time of 10:27.11 to win the event, with Brennan clocking in at 10:33.82. Ange Sawick (Fr., Abingdon, Pa.) followed by winning the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:53.94, then Kellie Darmody (Jr., Charlotte, N.C.) won the 100 backstroke in a time of 58.91 to give Navy its third win in as many races.

UMBC swimmers won the ensuing three races, the 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, and 50 freestyle, then Courtney Vandament (Sr., Coppell, Texas) posted a score of 227.32 to win the one-meter diving board by less than nine points. The Retrievers would sweep the top-three placings in the 100 freestyle race, but Darmody answered with a victory in the 200 backstroke. Her time of 2:05.26 won her the race by one-half of a second and improved her record in backstroke races this fall to 6-0. Laura Gorinski (Jr., Greensburg, Pa.) followed by posting a three-second victory in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.34), then Sawick and Davidson went 1-2 in the 500 freestyle. Sawick’s time of 5:00.74 won her the race by nearly eight seconds over Davidson, who finished three seconds ahead of the third-place UMBC swimmer.

Toni Paruso (Jr., Savannah, Ga.) again gave Navy a three-race winning streak as her time of 57.57 won her the 100 butterfly race, which became four in a row when Vandament won the three-meter by 25 points with her tally of 235.20. The final individual event of the night saw Gorinski win the 200 individual medley by a little more than one second with a time of 2:07.07.
The Mids entered the final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay, needing to score just one point to secure the overall victory. Navy’s foursome would place second to score four points in the event.

“This was a very good win for us,” said Navy women’s swimming head coach John Morrison. “We were down a few people due to injuries and illnesses, and others who did compete tonight had to fight through some of those same issues. We battled all night. Ange winning the 200 free really turned the meet for us.

“We knew we were coming in here to face a great team that is well coached. UMBC always swims tough against us, so we were aware this would be one of those grind it out meets where every point mattered. The key for us tonight was our ability keep battling to the very end. We didn’t get down when UMBC went on its run of wins; we just kept fighting for everything we could get.”

Whereas the Navy women’s team won nine events in the meet, the Navy men’s team (3-0) posted victories in 14 events over their counterparts from UMBC (1-1).

Navy won the opening 200 medley relay race by one-quarter of a second, then picked up wins in the first two individual races of the meet. Justin Vagts Jr., Crofton, Md.) and William Norton (Sr., Tyler, Texas) finished in first (9:40.37) and second place (9:43.38), respectively, in the 1000 freestyle race, then Mac Anthony (Sr., Allentown, Pa.) recorded a time of 1:40.79 to record the victory in the 200 freestyle.

UMBC’s Johan Rohtla won the 100 backstroke event, but that was followed by three consecutive victories by Navy swimmers. Luke Hoffer (So., Chapel Hill, N.C.) won the 100 breaststroke (59.56), Mark Meyer (Sr., Bethesda, Md.) tallied the win in the 200 butterfly (1:52.82) and Robbie Parker (Jr., Vienna, Va.) won the 50 freestyle race (21.74). The mid-point of the meet was reached when UMBC’s Andrew Eckhoff won the one-meter diving event.

The second half of the meet began with Zach Ingold (So., Hornell, N.Y.) recording the win in the 100 freestyle race (47.63). That was followed by Anthony winning the 200 freestyle (1:51.84) by one-tenth of a second, Hoffer winning the 200 breaststroke (2:07.16) and Vagts posting a 1.5 second victory in the 500 freestyle (4:42.65).

Team captain Steve Dukleth (Sr., Glen Ellyn, Ill.) led a 1-2-3 Navy finish in the 100 fly with his winning time of 53.40, Ben Freedman (So., Kennewick, Wash.) posted a score of 312.45 to win the three-meter board by 28 points and Joseph Stark (Jr., Erie, Pa.) recorded a time of 1:56.34 to win the 200 individual medley by just under one second. Navy closed out the meet by posting a time of 3:08.82 to win the 400 freestyle relay.

“We had some good results out there tonight,” said Navy men’s swimming head coach Bill Roberts. “UMBC always poses a tough challenge for us, especially in their pool, but our team rose to the occasion. We have a lot to build upon, but more work to do, heading into our meet next week.”

Both Navy teams will return to the pool for competition Friday afternoon when the Mids play host to Virginia in Lejeune Hall. The first event for the meet will begin at 4 p.m.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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