Swim Team Splits Weekend at WJU, DC

DEFIANCE, Ohio (October 27, 2012) - The Blue Knight men's and women's swim teams picked up a loss and a win over the weekend.  Both squads fell at Appalachian Swimming Conference opponent Wheeling Jesuit.  The men dropped a 116-71 decision, while the women fell 127-68, but both teams rebounded nicely on Saturday afternoon at Defiance College.  The men captured a dominant 88-12 win over their hosts, while the women defeated both Defiance (54-39) and ASC opponent Ursuline (66-23).  The men improve to 1-2 on the season, while the women sit at 2-2.

Individually, just one Blue Knight swam to first place finishes at Wheeling Jesuit.  Sophomore Matt Stover won both the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events in times of 56.99 and 2:02.89.  Urbana's top female finisher was senior Breanne Schroeder who finished runner-up in the 100, 200 and 500 yard freestyle events. 

Against Defiance, the Blue Knights broke 3 school records and claimed 18 first place finishes.  The women's 200-yard medley relay team of Constance Letso, Jacqueline Rex, Schroeder and Rachel Kelly started the meet off right with a win and new school record in the day's very first event.  They touched the wall in 1:59.89, becoming the first foursome to break the 2-minute barrier in school history in the 200 medley relay.

Other records set on Saturday include Rex in the 200-yard IM (2:27.57) and Kim Helander in the men's 100-yard back.  Helander nipped teammate Matt Stover's school record by less than a second.  Both Rex and Helander finished first in those events.  Other wins for UU include the men's 200-yard medley relay, Samantha Cowgill and Cody Byrd in the 1000 free, Schroeder and Stover in the 200 free, Alex Espinoza in the 50 free and 100 fly, Helander in the 200 IM, Schroeder and Alex Parks in the 100 free, Alex Lewis in the 500 free, Rex and Espinoza in the 100 breaststroke, and both the men's and women's 200 yard free relays.

Urbana hosts its first home meet of the season this Friday night at 6:00 p.m.  The Bethany College Bison visit the UU Aquatics Center for the first time. [WJU Results][Defiance Results]