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Delaware 130, Loyola 113
January 24, 2004

Blue Hens Snap Losing Streak Behind Seven First Place Finishes 

Top Delaware Finishers & Times

Freshman Steve Henn won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events for Delaware

BALTIMORE -- The University of Delaware men snapped a five-meet losing streak and the Blue Hen women completed their best dual meet season in seven years to highlight a non-league swimming and diving sweep over host Loyola College Saturday afternoon.

The Delaware men improved to 2-7 on the season with a 130-113 victory over Loyola as the Hens captured seven first place finishes while the UD women improved to 8-1, their best mark since the 1996-97 team finished the year with a 9-1 mark, with a 136.5-101.5 win over the Greyhounds. The Delaware women captured 10 first place finishes.

The meet was the final dual of the season for both the UD men and women, who will now prepare for the Colonial Athletic Association Championships to be held Feb. 18-21 at George Mason University.

The Delaware men, who won for the first time since a 143-96 win over Georgetown Nov. 1, handled the Greyhounds thanks to seven first place finishes. Freshman Steve Henn (Dix Hills/Dix Hills, NY) won both the one-meter (203.18) and three-meter (218.78) diving events, Alex Skacel (Holy Cross/Moorestown, NJ) won the 200 backstroke (1:59.54) and swam a leg of the winning 400 medley relay (3:41.65), David Hardy captured the 200 breaststroke (2:18.16) and was on the winning 400 medley relay, and Joe Virion (Concord/Wilmington, DE) won the 1,000 freestyle (10:02.01) and was a member of the winning 400 freestyle relay (3:23.22).

Also for the UD men, Colin Gibson (Radnor/Villanova, PA) was on the winning 400 medley relay team and placed second in both the 50 freestyle (22.66) and 100 freestyle (49.39). Skacel also was second in the 200 individual medley (2:01.77), Virion was second in the 500 freestyle (4:52.87), and Brendan Spencer (Yorktown/Arlington, VA) was second in the 200 butterfly (2:02.1) and was a member of the winning 400 medley relay team.

For the Delaware women, Jill Fitzgerald (Wood/Warminster, PA) had a hand in three wins as she swam a leg of the winning 400 medley relay (4:01.43) and won the 50 freestyle (24.90) and 100 freestyle (53.35) events.

Other double winners for the Hens were Meredith Law (Nansemond/Chesapeake, VA), who captured the 200 freestyle (1:57.80) and 500 freestyle (5:12.20), Sara Stephens (St. Mark's/Wilmington, DE), who won the 200 individual medley (2:11.48) and was a member of the 400 medley relay, Kristen Avioli (Bishop Shanahan/West Chester, PA), who won the 200 backstroke (2:12.64) and the 400 medley relay, and Sarah Peffer (Newark/Newark, DE), who won the 200 butterfly (2:11.29) and the 400 medley relay.

Also taking home first place finishes for the UD women were Kim Fields (Severna Park/Severna Park, MD) in the 1,000 freestyle (10:42.79) and Sarah Bergan (Bethesda-Chevy Chase/Bethesda, MD) in the one-meter dive (193.18). Bergan was also second in the three-meter diving event (186.83) and Fields was third in the 500 freestyle (5:26.53).

AGATE:

Delaware def. Loyola, 130-113

Top Delaware Finishers:

1st Place: 400 Medley Relay (Skacel, Hardy, Spencer, Gibson - 3:41.65); Joe Virion, 1000 Freestyle (10:02:01); Steve Henn, 1 Meter Diving (203.18), 3 Meter Diving (218.78); Alex Skacel, 200 Backstroke (1:59.54); David Hardy, 200 Breaststroke (2:18.16); 400 Freestyle Relay (Virion, Panas, Bailey, Rasch - 3:23.22).

2nd Place: Jeff Shields, 200 Freestyle (1:48.89); Colin Gibson, 50 Freestyle (22.66), 100 Freestyle (49.39); Alex Skacel, 200 Individual Medley (2:01.77); Brendan Spencer, 200 Butterfly (2:02.21); Cory Sanderson, 200 Backstroke (2:02.02); Joe Virion, 500 Freestyle (4:52.87).

3rd Place: 400 Medley Relay (Goldstein, Wembacher, Aungst, Bailey - 3:51.42); Cory Sanderson, 1000 Freestyle, (10:16.88); Dan O'Connell, 1 Meter Diving (185.93), 3 Meter Diving (176.18); Adam Goldstein, 200 Backstroke (2:03.05).

 

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