WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Ursinus College men's swimming team breezed to victory on Saturday, topping host McDaniel 57-38.
The Bears (4-0, 2-0), who opened a season 4-0 for the first time in three years, opened the day with a pair of top-three finishes in the 200 medley relay – the first event of the day. The A team of freshman Michael Prior, juniors Maxwell Coulter and Travis Venables, and senior Colin McNamara finished in 1:40.54 to earn the silver medal.
McNamara followed up the silver with a gold of his own, winning the 100 fly (53.95) before assisting in another team gold as the Bears won the 200 free relay (1:29.07).
Coulter followed McNamara's lead, touching the wall first in the 100 breast (1:02.04). He'd earn another team silver as the Bears B squad took second in that 200 free relay (1:33.86).
Prior nabbed a pair of silvers after his performance in the opening race. He'd go on to finish second in the 200 IM (2:03.63) and the 100 back (54.44). Venables would complete his trio of medals, adding a gold in the 200 free relay and a bronze in the 100 fly (57.31).
Sophomore Jacob Menzer continued his torrid start to the season, coming away with three medals. He swam the opening leg for the Bears' B team in the 200 medley relay before winning the 200 free (1:46.90) and the 500 free (4:51.03).
Sophomore Casey Lear also won a pair of golds – one solo and one as a relay. He won the 100 free (48.40), finishing just ahead of classmate Jared Krawetz (49.33) before swimming in the 200 free relay. Krawetz joined Lear on that first-place relay team. The two went 2-3 in the 50 free as well, with Lear (22.27) finishing just before Krawetz (22.54).
Senior Christopher Barthold and junior Daniel Becker each earned a pair of silver medals. Barthold finished second in the 500 free (5:03.80) before swimming the anchor leg in the 200 free relay. Becker joined his teammate in the relay, but earned his other medal in the 200 free (1:50.98).
Junior Devin Nielsen won a pair of bronze medals. First, he swam the second leg in the 200 medley relay. Later, he'd place third in the 100 back (58.34). Junior Kevin Gill and sophomore Thomas Rogers would complete the other half of the B team in the 200 medley relay.
Junior Thomas Bantley and sophomore Daniel Powell finished 2-3 in the 100 free, with Bantley (10:47.06) edging Powell (10:53.98) by just a few seconds.
Junior James Callaghan nabbed third in the 200 IM (2:05.51), while his classmate Reid Luksic grabbed bronze in the 100 breast (1:04.81). Freshman Matthew Buccella rounded out Bears' medalists with his participation in the B-team's second-place finish in the 200 free relay.
The Bears are back in action next Saturday as they host Gettsyburg.