Feb. 19, 2014
Final Stats
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy swept the four swimming events contested Wednesday to lead the respective team standings after day one of the Patriot League Championship that is being held this week in Lejeune Hall.
Navy's women's team holds a four-point advantage over second-place Boston U. (108-104), while the Navy men accrued 80 points to lead both the Terriers and Army, who are tied for second place with 66 points.
"While I am really happy with how today went," said Navy women's swimming head coach John Morrison, "this was only a partial day and we have a lot of competition ahead of us."
"I was really pleased with our effort tonight," said Navy men's swimming head coach Bill Roberts. "Everyone put it on the line, and I couldn't be prouder of the way they competed."
With the addition of Boston U. and Loyola to the Patriot League, the traditional three-day meet that began on Thursday instead started Wednesday night when the teams competing in the 200 medley relay, the 800 freestyle relay and the women's three-meter diving event.
The night began with both Navy teams winning the 200 medley relay events. In the women's race, Navy's team of Anna Brooks (Fr., Kansasville, Wis.), Hanna Gillcrist (Fr., Burlington, Ky.), Rheanna Vaughn (Sr., Aliso Viejo, Calif.) and Olivia Morrell (Fr., Albuquerque, N.M.) posted a pool record time (1:42.18) of 1:41.88 to win the event by one-quarter of a second over second-place Army (1:42.14).
"We had good splits by every swimmer, but Rheanna put together one of her all-time best swims tonight," said Morrison.
The same two schools placed first and second, respectively, in the men's edition of the race as Navy won the event in a time of 1:26.25 over Army's clocking of 1:27.90. Winning the race for the Mids in a new pool and league (1:27.37) and meet (1:28.60) record time was the foursome of Brendan Walsh (Jr., Annapolis, Md.), Sean Murphy (Sr., Hudson, Ohio), Jonathan DeBaugh (So., Conroe, Texas) and Dain Bomberger (Jr., Lititz, Pa).
A pair of Mids advanced into the championship final of the lone diving event contested on the night. Julie Jessie (So., Edwardsburg, Mich.) placed third with a score of 244.85, while Emily Saitta (So., Springfield, Va.) placed seventh with her tally of 221.55.
"It was a spectacular performance by our divers today," said Morrison.
Boston University's Chelsea Glincman won the board with a score of 269.15.
In the women's 800 free relay, four teams were within four-tenths of a second of each other after 400 yards, and Navy was in third place after 600 yards, but a strong close by Maddi Thompson (So., Jersey Shore, Pa.) allowed the Mids to come away with a narrow victory. Thompson anchored a team that consisted of Kenzie Margroum (Fr., Fort Thomas, Ky.), Jessi Ford (Fr., Madison, Wis.) and Charlotte Meyer (Fr., Bethesda, Md.) to a winning -- plus league and meet record (7:20.89) -- time of 7:20.05. Thompson trailed Lehigh's Carolyn Koch by four-tenths of a second with 50 yards left in the race, but posted a time of 28.09 over the final stretch to tally the win. Placing second in the race was Boston U. with a time of 7:21.82, while Lehigh placed third in a time of 7:22.42.
"The 800 free was a real battle," said Morrison. "Each of our first three swimmers had good times, with a couple of personal best clockings in there. Maddi had enough left to pull ahead and get us a big win.
"We had been chasing that league record for awhile, so it was nice to not just get the win but also break the mark."
"Hats off to our women in the 800 free relay," said Roberts.
There wasn't nearly the same drama in the men's 800 free as Navy led after each of the 200-yard intervals on its way to winning in a new pool (6:33.61), league and meet record (6:31.95) time of 6:28.62. Setting the record was the foursome of Tom Duvall (So., Durham, N.H.), Riley Mita (Jr., Stevenson Ranch, Calif.), Alex Nickell (So., Loveland, Colo.) and Hugh Davison (Sr., Towson, Md.).
Boston U. placed second in the race with a time of 6:31.96.
"It was an exciting first night and we are looking forward to the rest of the meet," said Roberts.
The championship continues the next three days with swimming trials at 10:30 a.m., diving trials at 1 p.m. and finals at 6 p.m. Links to free live video and live results can be found at NavySports.com.
Women's Standings
1. Navy - 108 points
2. Boston University - 104
T3. Bucknell - 88
T3. Army - 88
5. Loyola - 66
6. Colgate - 64
7. American - 51
8. Lafayette - 44
T9. Lehigh - 32
T9. Holy Cross - 32
Men's Standings
1. Navy - 80 points
T2. Army - 66
T2. Boston Univ. - 66
4. Bucknell - 60
5. Lehigh - 56
6. Lafayette - 50
7. American - 46
8. Colgate - 44
9. Loyola - 40
10. Holy Cross - 28
