Denman Races to Personal Best for GWU Men's Swimming on Day One of the Wingate Fall Frenzy
November 17, 2012 | Swimming
Charlotte, N.C. - Gardner-Webb got 4th place individual finishes from Luke Denman (Greenville, S.C.) and Jordan Denmark, and rallied to take 3rd in the 400 medley relay, highlighting a solid showing on day one of the three-day Wingate Fall Frenzy.
The Gardner-Webb men (155.5) swam to a 4th place team standing in the men's team rankings after the first day of competition despite spotting Queens (1st, 319), College of Charleston (2nd, 251.5), and Wingate (3rd, 160) diving points.
In the meet-opening 200 free relay, GWU swam to a 6th place finish behind the performances of Brandon Searle (22.36), Tate Warden (21.13), Nathan Lile (21.39), and Cole Hickey (20.82). The quartet combined for a season best time of 1:25.70 in the event.
Freshmen Luke Denman and Tate Warden gave Gardner-Webb two Top 8 finishes in the men's 500 free. Denman moved up four spots in finals to take 4th, recording the fastest in-season 500 free time in GWU history at 4:38.07. Warden jumped to 6th with a finals time of 4:42.56, a season best in the event.
Nathan Lile, a freshman from Waynesville, N.C., won the 'C' Final to take 17th in the event with a time of 4:45.82. Junior Taft Kallam (Randleman, N.C.) was 18th at 4:50.58 and freshman Andy Watts (Sarasota, Fla.) made his collegiate debut with a 20th place finish and a time of 4:56.34.
Denmark, a junior from Raleigh, N.C., led GWU in the 200 I.M. with a time of 1:52.79, good enough for 4th in the event. Senior D.J. Hughes (Snellville, Ga.) added a 7th place finish after swimming 1:56.30 during event prelims.
Junior Cody Meyers (Mobile, Ala.) moved up in finals to tie for 12th in a season best 1:57.85, and Brandon Searle (Melbourne, Fla.) was 14th after swimming a season best 1:57.49 during prelims of the event. Ryan Palmer (Wrentham, Mass.) added a 16th place finish (1:59.07 prelims) and junior Phil Leonard (Greenville, S.C.) took 22nd (2:01.01 prelims).
In the 50 free, Gardner-Webb's Matt Anderson (Fortaleza, Brazil) won the 'C' final in 21.75, a season best for the junior. Sophomore Joe MacGregor (Brooksville, Fla.) tied for 19th with a season best time of 21.79, and junior Cole Hickey (Charlotte, N.C.) took 22nd after swimming a season best time of 21.86 during prelims.
In the 400 medley relay, Gardner-Webb rallied to hold off CCSA rival College of Charleston to earn a 3rd place finish in the event. Denmark (51.92), Drew Ellwanger (57.56), Hughes (50.19), and Lile (46.45) teamed up to give GWU its season best in the event at 3:26.12.
Day two of the three-day Wingate Fall Frenzy opens with tomorrow morning's prelims session, to be followed by the finals session Saturday evening.
| Results - Friday |
