GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Ursinus College men's swimming team gave defending champion Gettysburg everything it could handle in a thrilling Centennial Conference showdown on Saturday, but the Bullets rode their depth to a hard-fought 141-121 victory.
Jacob Menzer and Michael Prior were sensational in defeat for the Bears (3-2, 2-2), who led 88-81 at one point before Gettysburg pulled away late. Menzer won the 100 free and 200 free in addition to a runner-up finish in the 400 free relay, while Prior touched first in the 100 back and 200 back and added a first-place showing in the 200 medley relay.
Prior swam the opening leg of the 200 medley relay, leading off as the winning quartet of senior Maxwell Coulter, freshman Daniel Mueser, and freshman Ryan Carkhuff posted a time of 1:36.54.
After Gettysburg answered with a victory in the 1000 free, Menzer notched the first of his two individual wins with a 1:44.20 in the 200 free. His time ranks second in the CC.
Prior moved into a tie for third in the conference with a 53.24 in the 100 back, completing the race with a cushion of nearly three full seconds over the Bullets' runner-up swimmer.
Menzer made himself a double winner by edging out a tight race in the 100 free, defeating Gettysburg's Francisco Nieves by .15 seconds with a clocking of 47.93, just a tenth of a tick off his season best.
Prior followed with his own second victory of the day, a 2:01.96 to take the 200 back by over two seconds.
Mueser posted the Bears' last individual win of the afternoon, cruising to a 51.97 in the 100 fly. Mueser's time places him second in the CC.
Ursinus came up just short of a huge points haul in the 400 free relay. Menzer, Mueser, junior Jared Krawetz, and Carkhuff touched in 3:11.53, less than a quarter of a second behind the winners from Gettysburg.
Mueser (21.71) and Carkhuff (21.78) came in second and third, respectively, in the 50 free. Both times rank within the top seven in the conference this season.
Prior finished runner-up in the 200 IM (2:00.50), while Menzer was third in the 500 free at 4:53.61. Coulter took second in the 100 breast with a 1:01.41.