FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Ursinus College swimming teams those from New York University, Clarion University, and Kutztown at Westminster Academy's Snowbird Invitational this morning, taking part in some lively competition during their trip to Florida. Both squads placed second behind NYU in a meet that featured nine events for each side.
The women began the meet with a runner-up finish in the 600-yard medley relay, as freshman Peyten Lyons (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra), sophomore Olivia Tierney (Broomall, Pa./Villa Maria), sophomore Margaret Leitz (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), and senior Corinne Capodanno (Claymont, Del./Padua Academy) turned in a time of 6:29.89.
Freshman Kathryn Longenecker (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) took third in the 300-yard freestyle before junior Alexandra Hemp (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppague) won the 25-yard freestyle in a time of 11.26 seconds, just edging out a pair of NYU swimmers. Peyten Lyons followed with a second-place effort in the 100-yard IM.
Freshman Clara Baker (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) secured an individual victory in the 75-yard butterfly, dominating the field in a clocking of 42.41 seconds, and sophomore Sydney Gundersen (Reading, Pa./Exeter) prevailed in the 75-yard freestyle (39.64). Gundersen teamed with Capodanno, Hemp, and Micaela Lyons to place second in the 100-yard freestyle relay.
Freshman Katherine Madden (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) was fourth in the 75-yard backstroke, while junior Katie Pielmeier (Palmerton, Pa./Palmerton) was fourth in the 75-yard breaststroke, where freshman Caroline Powell (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett) was fifth. Micaela Lyons placed fourth in the 25-yard freestyle.
The men also placed second in the 600-yard medley relay behind the foursome of junior William Benn (Summit, N.J./Summit), senior Keith Larkin (Glen Mills, Pa./Garnet Valley), senior Christian Hoops (Phoenixville, Pa./Great Valley), and junior Dylan Cooper (Southampton, Pa./William Tennent).
Junior Marcus Wagner (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas) captured second in the 300-yard freestyle, and freshman Travis Venables (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) led a 4-5-6 showing in the 100-yard IM. Sophomore Colin McNamara (Phoenixville, Pa./Great Valley) was third in the 75-yard butterfly before Cooper scored a second-place showing in the 75-yard freestyle.
Benn followed with his own runner-up effort in the 75-yard backstroke, where classmate James Marrone (Croton on Hudson, N.Y./Croton-Harmon) placed fourth, before McNamara and Venables joined freshmen Devin Nielsen (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) and Daniel Becker (Fairfax, Va./Lake Braddock SS) for a third-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle relay.