Gettysburg vs. Dickinson

CARLISLE, Pennsylvania, February 4. SOPHOMORE Matt Libby (Freeport, Maine/Cheverus) had a meet to remember, winning two events, reaching an NCAA “B” cut, and rallying to give his team an amazing come-from-behind, meet-clinching victory as the men’s and women’s swimming teams swept host Dickinson College in Centennial Conference action Wednesday evening.

Gettysburg’s men won 108-97 while the women posted a 120-83 victory.

Libby recorded his “B” cut in the 100-fly, finishing in 52.01. He also captured the 200-free in 1:50.16, but he saved his best for last. Gettysburg (5-3, 4-1 CC) led just 97-91 heading into the final event – the 200-free relay – and with his team trailing by over a second, Libby swam a scintillating 20.91 split to give the Bullets the win in 1:28.10, just 0.01 seconds in front of Dickinson’s anchor. The Red Devils had a pair of teams finish second and third, so Dickinson would have won the meet if it had won the relay.

Other winners for the men’s team were sophomores Roger Nawrocki (Acton, Mass./Acton Boxborough) in the 200-IM (2:06.38), Pat McDevitt (Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) in the 100-back (56.64), and Paul Besancon (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) in the 500-free (5:10.07).

The Bullets swept the relays, as junior Donald Bennett (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell), Nawrocki, sophomore Tom Everett (Timonium, Md./McDonogh School), and sophomore Drew Close (Berwyn, Pa./Haverford School) teamed up to win the 200 medley in 1:41.68. Then in the 200 free, Close, junior Stephen Stopenski (Merchantville, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep), and Nawrocki set the stage for Libby’s heroics.

The women’s team improved to 8-1 and stayed perfect at 6-0 in the Centennial Conference while earning their 20th straight CC victory. The Bullets cruised to victory in eight of 11 events and received individual wins by seven different swimmers, with all but one courtesy of freshman. First-year Cheryl Olechnowicz (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) touched first in the 1,000-free (11:24.13), as did senior Patrice Boucher (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Shipley School) in the 200-free (2:01.23), freshman Caroline Coolidge (South Windsor, Conn./Kingswood-Oxford) in the 200-IM (2:19.85), freshman Mariesa Slaughter (Harrisonville, Mo./Harrisonville) in the 100-fly (1:02.83), freshman Cassie Close (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) in the 100-back (1:03.50), freshman Katie Timmerman (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) in the 500-free (5:34.44), and freshman Brooke Lacey (Darien, Conn./Darien) in the 100-breast (1:12.62).

Gettysburg started the meet with a win in the 200-medley relay. Sophomore Kayte Demont (Cumberland, Maine/North Yarmouth Academy), Lacey, junior Maggie Mulderrig (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep School), and Coolidge prevailed in 1:57.29.

The Bullets compete in the final dual meet of the season on Saturday, when they host Franklin & Marshall at 1 p.m. In the women’s meet, F&M and Gettysburg will enter the day tied for first in the conference at 6-0.

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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