Men’s and Women’s Swimming tasted success in their most recent meet; both teams defeated Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rivals Manhattan while the women additionally topped Siena on Nov. 17 at Fieldston High School in Riverdale, NY.
“Today was an exciting day for the swimming program,” said Head Coach Matt Nunnally. “The team came ready to compete and their focus showed right from the start.”
Freshmen Callan Smith and Camryn McHugh added to their successful maiden campaigns; they both won three individual races and were a part of winning relay teams.
In the 1000-yard freestyle, Smith broke the team record, which he had previously set himself. He came in first at 9:42.39.
Additionally, the freshman won the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard backstroke, putting him up to 17 first-place finishes on the season. Smith earned MAAC Male Swimmer of the Week recognition for his efforts.
McHugh was victorious in both the 100 and 200-yard backstroke. In winning the 100-yard fly, she set a new team record with a time of 58.85.
McHugh’s performance in Monmouth’s winning weekend saw her named MAAC Female Swimmer of the Week for the second time this season.
Women’s Swimming defeated Manhattan by a score of 158-101 before downing Siena, 142.5-118.5.
Freshman Sarah Brennan won her third race of the season with a 5:26.71 finish in the 500-yard freestyle.
The 400-yard IM was won by freshman Lauren Baines in 4:50.21 in what was the fifth first-place finish of her career.
Monmouth was victorious in the 200-yard medley relay when McHugh, freshman Muriel Maloney, and juniors Bradie Keelan and Jaclyn Greening finished in 1:51.78.
Men’s Swimming topped Manhattan by a margin of 71 points, winning 165-94.
Freshman Valance Washington won two races in the meet, coming first in both the 100 and 200-yard freestyle, pushing his win total up to five on the season.
Freshman Dylan Barkhuizen also won twice at Manhattan, finishing the 100 and 200-yard butterfly on top. The wins were his seventh and eighth of the year.
Freshman Kevin Del Giorno earned his first collegiate win with a time of 55.27 in the 100-yard backstroke.
Sophomore Ethan Lucas won the 50-yard freestyle, a race that he has now won on five separate occasions this season.
Sophomore Trevor Askew won his third 200-yard breaststroke race of the year in 2:15.58.
Smith, Barkhuizen, Lucas, and junior Austin D’Angelo worked together to win the 200-yard medley relay, helping the Hawks to victory.
“Wins in both medley relays set the tone for the entire meet,” said Nunnally. “The early momentum carried the team throughout and gave us a big enough lead on the scoreboard that we just needed to be safe with our starts on the last relay.”
Monmouth will next be participating in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship in East Meadow, NY this weekend in an event that will span from Friday to Sunday.
This year marks the third in a row that the Hawks will have participated in the competition.
In the 2017 ECAC Winter Championship, Men’s and Women’s Swimming finished in fifth and 17th, respectively.
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth Athletics
