Division III Weekly Meet Recap: Denison Downs Kenyon

Photo Courtesy: Allen Rich

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Meet of the Week: Kenyon and Denison

While both the Kenyon and Denison teams re-wrote the national top ten lists this weekend as predicted, the final team scores were not as close as they were projected to be on paper. Denison won the women’s meet 192.5-106.5 while the Big Red men won 173.5-124.5.

Despite winning both relays, the Kenyon Ladies had to face a few setbacks. Mainly, they were outscored 16-3 in one-meter diving and 16-2 on three-meter. While this was certainly not the only reason Denison had the upper hand, it did play a big role in the final team scores. Additionally, Kenyon two-time National Champion Marysol Arce was absent from competition.

Photo Courtesy: Allen Rich

Both Hannah Orbach-Mandel (Kenyon) and Kt Kustritz (Denison) had impressive swims for their respective teams. Orbach-Mandel now leads the country in the 100 freestyle (51.33) while Kustritz accomplished the same in the 100 breast (1:02.98). Kustritz’s time would have even earned her All-American status at last year’s NCAA Championships. While she stole the show in the breaststrokes, Orbach-Mandel swam up to the 500 distance as well, which can arguably be noted as the best race of the meet.

The Kenyon standout faced off against Big Red’s senior leader Campbell Costley. Costley got her hand on the wall first in the event posting a 4:57.46. Orbach-Mandel narrowly missed out on the win finishing in 4:57.49. The women now have the top two times in the nation and are the only swimmers to break the five minute barrier so far this season. Orbach-Mandel is definitely setting herself up to improve upon her Honorable Mention All-America honors in this event from last year while Costley will be chasing the individual title in this event.

Costley also won the 1,000 freestyle handedly in 10:20.43 and helped Denison’s B 400 free relay team secure third-place points. Classmate Carolyn Kane took care of the 50 free (23.75) and 100 fly (56.57). Junior Halli Garza also had a big day for Denison as she won the 200 fly (2:03.26) and 400 IM (4:31.44). This is faster than what Garza swam at last year’s NCAA Championships in the 200 fly where she finished seventh.

Rounding out the Denison top-finishers is freshman Casey Kirby. Kirby posted a pair of NCAA B cuts this weekend in route to winning both the 100 (56.91) and 200 back (2:04.44). She had backup in the 200 from classmate Erica Hsu who finished second in 2:06.77. Hsu had a big day for the Big Red as well by finishing second in the 400 IM and third in the 200 free.

Photo Courtesy: Allen Rich

On the men’s side, Denison did not waste any time winning the 200 medley relay in 1:32.87. Sophomore Kenny Fox put in a 22.17 fly leg for the Big Red, helping secure the victory. Fox also played a key role in the closing 400 free relay along with Max Howes, Stuart Hohm and Walt Dauksher. Fox, Howes and Hohm also had individual victories for Denison.

Fox won the 100 fly in 50.10, the fastest time in the nation this year. He could not, however, withstand the pressure from Kenyon senior Austin Pu in the 50 free. Pu won the event in 21.12 while Fox finished second in 21.20. Pu could not achieve the same dominance in the 100 freestyle, as he placed second to Howes who won the event in 46.42.

Hohm had the swim of the day for the Big Red men, winning the 200 free with a B cut and top time in the nation. His 1:40.12 was enough to out-touch Dauksher and a risky lineup move by Kenyon. Instead of putting NCAA runner-up Arthur Conover in one of his signature distance events, he placed third in the 200 free with a 1:41.98. Despite the third place, this was still an in-season best for Conover.

Freshman Connor Rumpit did hold up his end of the bargain for Kenyon by winning the 1,000 in 9:39.01, just .02 seconds ahead of Denison’s Matthew Hedman. The Conover maneuver made sense, the senior just did not have enough speed to withstand a strong Denison squad. He did snag the win in the 500 free, finishing in 4:35.54.

Denison claimed both backstroke events with Jason Wesseling taking the 100 in 51.46 and Bebe Wang claiming the 200 in 1:51.10. Teammate Jake Ball was able to win the 200 breaststroke in 2:07.93 but was not able to take down Kenyon senior Ian Reardon in the 100. Reardon took the shorter distance with a 57.86.

Jon Zimdars was successful in the 200 butterfly for Kenyon, winning the event with a B cut 1:52.62. His time now stands at second in the nation. The Lords also finished out the meet strong by placing first and second in the 400 IM. Reardon raced to second in 4:04.94 while Michael Bartholomew finished first in 4:01.33. Both swims are B cuts and are currently the top two times in the nation in this event.

Despite the difference in team scores, Kenyon and Denison are still two of the top teams to watch this season in Division III. They will continue to re-write their team and national record books.

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Jack Lindell

7 years ago

Thumbs up Carolyn Kane