Results -
Photo Gallery
Grantham, PA - It is extremely uncommon for a swimmer to swim back-to-back events at any swim meet. However, this was not your average swim meet. For senior and captain Zach McArdle this was his last swim meet at Frederickson Natitorium as a Messiah College Falcon and he was not the least bit afraid to swim in back-to-back events.
"I'm sorry. I'm so tired a can't even think," were McArdle's first thoughts in his post-meet interview which was 15 minutes after his last event. McArdle swam the in the final two Men's events of the evening, swimming in the 100 yard breast stroke and the 400 freestyle relay.
"To see Zach go out there and swim in back-to-back events was really outstanding," commented assistant swim coach
Chris Doemland. "He swam his best regular season breast stroke time in all the years he has been here and then swam in the next event. That was special," added coach Doemland.
McArdle finished in second in both events and lead the Men's team to a tough 60 to 141 loss against Misericordia.
Nate Brown swam extremely well for the Falcons finishing first in the 50 yard freestlye with a time of 22.45. Junior Tim Alarcorn also had a good night placing second in the Men's 200 yard freestyle and third in the 100 yard butterfly. Other Messiah Men's swimmers who placed included
Sam Kidd,
Reid Hartzell,
Luke Sagaser,
Michael Lacson, and Zachary Krueger.
On the Women's side
Lauren Clune won the third event of the night, the 1000 yard freestyle, with a time of 11:19.62. Later, she went on to take the 500 yard freestyle as well. Her teammate Katelyn Sagaser swam well in the 200 yard IM finishing with a time of 2:18.17, three seconds better than her closest competitor.
Freshman
Laura Penwell continued to impress as she finished in second in multiple events and leadoff for the Falcons in the 400 yard freestyle relay which the Women's team won by less than a half second margin.
"As we prepare for the MAC Championships I thought we swam real well tonight," stated head coach
Nancy Luley. "We have some swimmers who are swimming really well and I am pleased with where we are at as a team."
For the seniors, this was their last swim meet at home. "It is sad. It was a great privelage to lead this team over the past several years and to be a part of the Messiah swimming tradition," McArdle said. "But, I am also excited to see where this team goes over the next couple years."
It was definitely an emotional scene on Friday night in Frederickson Natitorium. The swimmers were even more vocal and supportive of their teammates as some of the swam their final meets in their home pool.
"It will be a big loss to see them go," coach Luley commented about the seniors last swim meet in Grantham. The Falcons are not dwelling on what was, but are instead focusing on what is to come. "We are focusing on Lebanon Valley tomorrow and then its on to the MAC Championships," Luley finished with as she prepares her team for the post-season swimming action.
The Falcons swim at Lebanon Valley tomorrow, Saturday January 28th at 1:00 p.m. The MAC Championship begins on Friday February 10th in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
