ResultsMen's ScoresArcadia 143 – King's 53
Messiah 105 – Arcadia 99
Messiah 154 – King's 40
Wilkes-Barre, PA - Messiah College swimming started off the New Year in loud fashion on Saturday, with each the men and women sweeping match-ups with King's and Arcadia.
The women won nine of 11 events, and the men won four of 11 events as the also combined for 17 program Top 10 marks. As solid as they were in winning events, the Falcons' deep placement across the finishers was overwhelming to their opponents.
The closest match of the day was between the men and Arcadia. The teams traded blows throughout the afternoon, with the Falcons cementing the win in the final event of the afternoon, the 400 freestyle relay.
Nolan McArdle,
Daniel Jessen,
Dakota Schmalz, and
Nate Brown finished with a time of 3:20.59, more than a second ahead of Arcadia (3;21.81. Brown was especially impressive as the anchor, with his final lap of 47.60 overcoming a deficit of 1.88 seconds.
Brown had taken first in the 100 freestyle with a time of 49.47 earlier in the meet, and at the time it gave Messiah some space from their opponents. But Arcadia responded with three-straight wins in the 200 backstroke, 500 freestyle, and 200 breaststroke to set-up the pivotal final 400 freestyle relay.
Aaron Eckman took first in the 200 freestyle and Brown also finished atop the 50 freestyle.
Women's scoresKing's 111 – Arcadia 89
Messiah 150 – King's 53
Messiah 157- Arcadia 44
The women started off with a first-place finish in the 400 medley relay, and
Katie Reiter (1000 freestyle),
Tara Freeman (200 freestyle),
Kaitlin Wingert (50 freestyle), and
Lauren Clune (400 IM) then all followed with first-place performances. Multiple Falcons were bunched near the top of each event, a demonstration of the team's dominance.
Clune (500 freestyle) and Freeman (100 freestyle) picked up additional top finishes, while
Emily Reale also took first in the 200 breastroke.
The women capped off the day behind the first-place 400 freestyle medley relay of
Laura Penwell,
Anna McArdle, Clune, and Freeman.
More on this story to follow...Â
