Division III Weekly Recap: Is It Taper Yet?

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Photo Courtesy: David Silverman Photography; MIT Athletics

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This last weekend was the last major weekend for Division III duel meets as conference meets will be happening this upcoming weekend as teams are winding down on their seasons.

There was not a huge array of meets in the first weekend of February in Division III as MIT men defeated Amherst while the Amherst women came out on top. MIT still boasts the best 200 butterflyer in Division III in freshman Kailey Allen. She won the race on Saturday with a 2:05.32 ahead of Amherst’s Geralyn Lam (2:07.00). MIT could not compete with Amherst’s depth as they won the meet 171-128 on the women’s side while the MIT men came up victorious 213-86 in the annual last meet of the year for both teams.

Natalie Rumpelt and Bridgitte Kwong came up big for Amherst as Rumpelt won the 200 free (1:53.95) and the 100 free (52.85), and Kwong won the 200 IM (2:09.08) and 200 back (2:04.94). MIT got wins from Allen in the 200 fly, Mary Thielking in the 1000 (10:35.16) and Lilia Staszel in the 50 (24.50), but ultimately came up short in the end. Jessica Chen, who was selected as the NEWMAC swimmer of the week, also won the 200 breast at the meet with a 2:24.08.

MIT (#8) was ranked ahead of Amherst (#10) in the last duel meet poll, but could not hang with them this weekend. The MIT men however, were ranked at #4 while Amherst was #11. MIT dominated the meet with Peter Crocker (200 free, 500 free), Joshua Tomazin (50 free, 100 free) and Brandon McKenzie (100, 200 breast) each winning two events. They didn’t even need to fully utilize one of their best swimmers Bouke Edskes, who won the 200 fly (1:52.81) and was third in the 100 (51.08) behind William Arcand and David Morejon.

MIT has been consistently in the top five all season and could be pushing a top four spot at NCAA’s this year. They finished eighth last year, and have the team to be able to push NYU and Johns Hopkins, who finished ahead of them last season.

Defending NCAA champions Emory swam with Division I Georgia over the weekend as both teams ended up coming short. Johns Hopkins swam in the Nike Invitational at North Carolina, but they did not bring a full team to compete since their big names like Brandon FabianGriffith Otazu and Emile Kuyl did not compete. Their women did however bring a whole team with Kristen Peterson finishing second in the 50 (23.70), Michelle Wang getting second in the 200 IM (2:04.40) and Anna Wisniewski finishing second in the 100 fly (55.66), along with Courtney Cowan finishing runner-up in the 500 (4:57.43).

Johns Hopkins men at least got good swims out of Christopher Arena in the 500 (4:32.50) and Division III swimmer of the week Michael Wohl in the 200 free (1:39.29). Peter Lazorchak won the 100 breast (56.20) and Erik Bostrom was second in the 400 IM (4:00.17).

There were not very many other ranked teams in action over the weekend as many teams’ B teams were swimming for last second conference spots and many others had the weekend off to rest for the championships coming up.

(#25/13) Calvin swept (NR/25) Hope College on Saturday as Abby Van Harn picked up three wins in the 50 (23.94), 100 (52.67) and 200 free (1:55.74), and Benjamin Holstege picked up wins in the 100 free (46.41) and 200 IM (1:58.79) and had a good 100 back leading off the 400 medley relay (51.08).

January 31 recap
January 23 recap
December 6 recap
November 21 recap
November 13 recap
November 6 recap
October 30 recap
October 23 recap

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Michael George
Michael George
6 years ago

Lukas Menkhoff of Pomona-Pitzer, another top 10 team swam, 44.98 for the 100y Free and 20.86 50y Free this past weekend too! Look out for him at SCIAC.

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