DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University swimming team competed in its final dual of the 2024-25 season on Saturday afternoon at Davidson College, with the men's team suffering a 169-109 defeat while the women fell by a final of 202.5-90.5, despite some strong individual performances

Sophomore Luke Weber went back-to-back with a first place run for the second dual meet in a row. The Charlotte, N.C. put down a time of 4:02.13 to take top honors in the men's 400-yard IM event.

Senior Emma Maust posted a strong run for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the women's 200-yard freestyle. Maust touched the wall for first place, winning by over half a second with a time of 1:52.97. Sophomore Slawka Ndubuisi also performed well for GWU in the same event, with a third place run and a time of 1:55.81. Maust further competed in the men's 500-yard freestyle a little later, placing third with a time of 5:05.92, while freshman Addie King touched the wall in first for GWU after 5:04.47

Freshman Dakota Townley, fresh off an ASUN Swimmer of The Week award in January, scored first place in the women's 100-yard breaststroke. Townley posted a 30.23 second split on her way to a 1:04.06 time, taking the top spot by just 0.16 seconds. Townley saw her name at the top of the charts in the women's 200-yard breaststroke, scoring a win with a time of 2:19.93

Junior Justin Bender and senior Logan Butner got Gardner-Webb on the podium in the men's 100-yard breaststroke. Bender took the top spot with a time of 55.64 seconds, while Bender clocked in at 56.69 seconds to take third place. Bender later took part in the men's 200-yard backstroke and won the event with a time of 2:03.72

Gardner-Webb was back in first in the men's 50 yard freestyle. Sophomore Jacob Jensen touched the wall in 20.75 seconds, a blistering pace to take him top of the leaderboard in the sprint.

Freshman Manuel Brandner and senior Theo Drescher went first and third in the men's 100-yard freestyle event to highlight two more impressive finishes for the GWU men. Brander touched the wall in first with a time of 45.97 seconds, while Drescher placed third in 47.31 seconds.

In one of the day's most exciting meets, freshman Jillian Hawkins tied for first in the women's 100-yard butterfly. Alongside Nora Ratmeyer of Davidson, Hawkins touched the wall in 57.13 seconds.

Next up, the Runnin' Bulldogs take on the ASUN Championship meet. Gardner-Webb will compete for top honors in the conference in Knoxville, Tenn. between February 19th and 22nd.