Bulldogs Sweep Home Opener Against Howard
October 26, 2007 | Swimming
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb men's and women's swim teams came out strong in their home opener and powered past the Howard Bison in front of a frenzied crowd at the swimming facility.
The women secured a 107-65 victory over the visitors to improve to 7-0 while the men's team improved to 3-1 on the year with a 94-62 win.
The women's squad picked up an impressive win in the 400 medley relay as Corey Hughey, Isabel Olivas, Sarah Steadman and Ginny Yergler combined for a time of 4:10.06, besting the second-place squad of Victoria Bryant, Heather Roka, Lindsay Palmer and Mallory Blessing by over seven seconds.
In the 1,000 free, the visitors did not have a participant in the line-up and Kelly Gueltig took full advantage of the situation, touching the wall in 10:59.33 for nine team points. Leslie Hallquist and Laura Furnari also competed, but their times were recognized as an exhibition.
Roka posted a five-second victory in the 200 free after completing the race in a mere 1:58.66. Rookie Rachel Warkentin continued her hot streak, as did fellow first-year competitor Elizabeth Ketterer in the 200 IM. Warkentin won the event in 2:15.24 while Ketterer came in right behind her in 2:17.86.
Ketterer couldn't be kept down, as she emerged victorious in the 100 fly with a time of 1:01.69.
Carrie Kibler and Rachel Glenn finished two-three, respectively, in the 50 free. Kibler was just off Nzingha Murphy's winning time, but garnered a time of 25.93. Glenn finished in 26.26.
After a few moments, Glenn won the 500 free by posting a time of 5:27.30.
Senior Grace Whiteside's time of 1:01.66 in the 100 back was good enough for the top spot. Whiteside bested her nearest competition from Howard by nearly six seconds.
In the 100 free, Gueltig placed second after finishing in 56.18 as did Sarah Stokes in the 100 breast after touching the wall in 1:12.60.
In the 400 free relay, the GWU squad of Warkentin, Stepheni Stadnik, Erin Pledger and Hughey out-swam the competition by three seconds, thus receiving 11 team points by finishing the race in 3:44.73.
The men's squad began the meet with a commanding lead and never let up. The quartet of Craig South, Adam Middleton, Steven Caudill and Denaj Seymour's time of 3:46.87 in the 400 medley relay was the third fastest in school history and was good enough to take first place.
In the next event, the 1,000 free, Howard did not have any competitors. Adam Suggs won the event with a time of 10:15.22. Michael Roka also swam in the event and finished in 10:25.03.
Rookie Kyle Hooley notched a first-place time in the 200 free
with a time of 1:47.98. He medaled again in the 100 fly after
winning the race in a mere 54.51.
One of the major stories of the night for the men's team came by
way of George Partin. On Oct. 20, his time of 22.76 earned him the
second-fastest time in school history in the 50 free. Tonight, he
was able to touch the wall in 22.52, thus surpassing fellow rookie
Denaj Seymour for the GWU record.
Despite losing the school record, Seymour responded by taking aim at first place in the 100 free. He didn't match his time from a week ago, but was still fluid enough in the water to win the race in 49.72.
Freshman Steven Caudill continued his winning ways, taking home the 200 IM in 2:00.17. The time bested the school record he already owned.
In the 500 free, Eric Kegley and Jay Winn went two-three, respectively. Kegley finished the race in 5:08.10 while Winn was right behind him, touching in 5:08.17.
Saxon Simpson, Patrick Williams and Ryan Cermely were second, third and fourth, respectively in the 100 breast. Simpson won the silver in 1:05.21 while Williams took bronze in 1:07.99. Cermely was just off the others times, finishing in 1:12.59.
GWU's 400 free relay team narrowly missed the school record. Hooley, Partin, Seymour and Erin Lewis combined to finish in 3:19.00, just 31-hundredths of a second off the school record. However, it was good enough to claim first in the event.
The Bulldogs both look to improve to 2-0 at home this season
tomorrow morning as they take on a very talented College of
Charleston squad.
