SPRINGFIELD — The Wilmington College women’s and men’s swim teams both tallied 10 top-two finishes in a double dual meet with Transylvania University and host Wittenberg University Saturday.
For the men, Isak Alin won a trio of events for the Fightin’ Quakers, taking the win in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.37), the 200-yard breaststroke (2:13.99) and the 200-yard IM (2:04.39). Coincidentally, the sophomore is also the program’s record holder in all three events.
Aaron Polk also won an event for Wilmington, swimming the 200-yard butterfly in 2:15.66 to out-tap teammate Matthew Allen by just nine one-hundredths of a second. Polk, along with swimming the 1,000-yard freestyle in which he took third, earned a runner-up finish in the 500-yard freestyle (5:27.94).
“Aaron [Polk] had a great day swimming the ‘Big Three’ individual events in the meet for the team,” WC head coach Trip Breen said. “Competing in the 1,000-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle is a tough triple. He really stepped up for his teammates.”
Others to post second-place finishes were Samuel Shanes in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:25.94) and Logan Schroer in the 100-yard freestyle (51.95 seconds)
Wilmington’s two relay squads also finished second as Reed Ashcraft, Ian Darras, Allen and Samuel Wallace posted a mark of 1:15.71 in the 200-yard medley relay and Schroer, Polk, Jared Shoemaker and Alin clocked a 1:34.71 in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
For the women Macki Leon won two individual events for the Fightin’ Quakers — the 100-yard backstroke (1:04.34) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:18.73). She won the 200 back by beating the field by more than four seconds. Leon also served as the anchor of Wilmington’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Margaret Hover, Anna Endlsey and Hannah Davis that won the event with a time of 1:46.90.
Alyssa Harper earned runner-up honors in two events, posting a time of 2:37.93 in the 200-yard butterfly and a mark of 12:04.08 in the 1,000-yard freestyle.
“Freshman Alyssa Harper had a great meet,” Breen said. “It is a tough double and the events she swam are pretty close together. She raced very well in both events and really stepped up for her teammates.”
Fellow freshman Fynn Roberts was the other Quaker to earn two second-place finishes, doing so in the 100-yard backstroke (1:13.96) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:39.28). Hover and Maryn Herring each tallied one runner-up placement, Hover in the 200 free and Herring in the 100 fly.
Wilmington also began the meet by placing second in the 200-yard medley relay as Ashley Carlson, Roberts, Herring and Davis swam a mark of 2:01.76.
“I am pleased with the progress we are making,” said Breen. “They are training and racing very well for this early in the season. I am looking forward to a great week of practice and the opportunity to compete again next weekend.”
Wilmington heads to Hiram College for a dual meet Saturday.
