GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah men's swimming team earned its first victory of the season today, a 135-68 decision over visiting Stevenson University in Fredericksen Natatorium. Overall, eight Falcon swimmers turned in first-place finishes.
Messiah started in strong fashion, clinching the first event of the meet on the men's side, the 200 yard medley relay. A team of
Andrew Leeper, Joe McGillen,
Andrew Roberti, and
Jacob Whipple placed first, touching in 1:44.67. Leeper continued to contribute for the Falcons, placing first in the 200 yard backstroke (2:10.30), as well as the 100 yard breaststroke (1:06.34).
Whipple was a solid performer for Messiah as well. The sophomore registered first-place finishes in back-to-back events. Whipple touched first in the 50 yard freestyle in 23.12 seconds, tacking on another first-place finish in the 100 yard freestyle (52.33). The winning time edged out fellow Falcon teammate
Cole Hasenbalg, who touched in 52.61.
Issas McCabe was another Falcon who notched a pair of victories, as the sophomore went the distance in the 1000 yard freestyle with a winning time of 11:27.82. The twentieth event of the afternoon was the 200 yard breaststroke, in which McCabe' time of 2:20.46 led all competitors. Senior
Jake Valentine turned in a solid second-place finish in the 200 yard breaststroke, falling short of McCabe with a time of 2:36.60.
Freshman Jonathon Lacayo was able to contribute a first-place finish as well. Lacayo placed first with a time of 59.10, narrowly edging out teammate Hasenbalg (1:00.70).
Valentine, in addition to his second-place finish in the 200 yard backstroke, touched second in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:11.68). Other notable second-place finishers included Freshman Franki Salvi in the 200 yard freestyle (1:57.23), Roberti in the 200 yard butterfly (2:10.20), and freshman
Brett Graff in the 200 yard backstroke (2:23.57).
Messiah competed well collectively, improving to 7-0 all-time opposite the Mustangs.
The Falcons will return to the pool when they host Albright College next Saturday, Mar. 27, at 1:00 p.m. in Fredericksen Natatorium.
