Men's Swimming Defeats VMI 109-65 at Half/Double Invite
February 08, 2009 | Swimming
The Gardner-Webb men's swim team defeated the Keydets of VMI, 109-65, in the Bulldogs' annual Half/Double Invite on Saturday afternoon at Bost Pool. The win boosts the Bulldogs' record to 4-4 this season.
Just as the ladies did before them, the men were able to open the meet with the top time in the 200 Medley Relay. GWU's team of Samuel Woods, Travis Gibson, Saxon Simpson, and Clayton Vickers took first-place with a time of 1:39.97, just about five seconds faster than the second-place Keydets.
The men also placed the top-two times in the 400 fly, with Abram Miller leading the way with a time of 4:14.65. He was followed by Michael Roka, who finished up at 4:31.61. Miller's time of 4:14.65 is now the fastest time in school history, while Roka's time is now the fourth fastest.
Sophomore George Partin didn't hold anything back in the 50 free, as he led all swimmers with a time of 22.09. His time is now the third fastest in school history. Vickers also placed for the Bulldogs, finishing third with a time of 23.23.
A new fastest time was recorded in the 50 breast, as Patrick Elerding led the way with a time of 27.06. Collin Burchins was close on his heels, touching the wall at 28.17, which is third fastest in the record book. Casey Brutus rounded out the record-setting performances with a fourth all-time time of 28.30.
Staying in form, Derek Gore also set a new fastest time in the 400 back, touching the wall at 4:16.57. Sam Woods and Chris Musco also placed in the record book with times of 4:24.43 and 4:25.59, fourth and fifth all-time.
A string of records were set by the men in the 100 IM, Elerding leading the way with a time of 54.95. Elerding's time is now the second-fastest time in school history, behind only himself. Partin finished in 55.75, which is fourth all-time. He was followed by Woods at 55.98, which is fifth all-time. Burchins also made the list with a time of 57.36, sixth all-time. Last but not least, Miller finished in 59.66, which is 10th all-time.
Elerding was able to improve on his previous fastest time in the 50 fly, by finishing with a sub twenty-four second time of 23.99 for a new fastest time in the event. Steven Caudill one-upped Elerding's previous record, by finishing .01 seconds faster with a time of 24.31. He now holds second-place all-time. Gibson followed in suit with a time of 24.36, which is good enough for fourth all-time. Adam Middleton was next, finishing at 24.81, now the eighth fastest time. And rounding out the top-10 list all-time was Matthew Leonard with a time of 24.93.
Burchins was just off the Bulldogs' fastest time in the 400 breast, but he did take first place in the event and is now the second-fastest swimmer in the event with a time of 4:53.50. A quartet of Bulldogs followed Burchins, all setting new record times in the event. Brutus holds the third-fastest time of 5:02.06, Roka the fifth-fastest time of 5:04.21, Patrick Williams the eighth-fastest time of 5:06.54, and Suggs rounds out the top-10 all-time with a time of 5:16.45.
Woods set a new fastest time in the 50 back, touching the wall in first place with a time of 25.16. Partin improved upon his previous time in the event, touching the wall at 26.57, good enough for second all-time. Adam Middleton tied Partin's previous fastest time in the event, 26.78, now the third-fastest time. Leonard rounds out the top-five with a time of 26.84.
In the final event of the afternoon, the men placed one and two in the 200 Free Relay. GWU's team of Musco, Burchins, Caudill, and Miller took first with a time of 1:32.19, followed by the second-place team of Elerding, Gibson, Simpson, and Vickers.
The men will take a week off to recover and prepare for the CCSA Conference Championship on Feb. 19-21 in Athens, Ga.
