MEN’S SWIMMING THROTTLES FIGHTING TIGERS/SPENCER SMASHES 20 YEAR OLD RECORD
(Aurora, N.Y.)─ The Wells College men's swimming team powered past the visiting SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers, 59-26, on Thursday evening in Aurora. The Wells women's team was not as fortunate, falling in close meet to the Fighting Tigers, 50-40. Despite the loss on the women's side, freshmen Gabby Spencer (Trumansburg, N.Y./Charles O. Dickerson) wowed everyone, smashing the 20 year old Wells 50 Freestyle record by .25 seconds, touching the wall with a time of 26.37.
In men's action, the Express took first in nine of ten events highlighted by Dan Schilling who bested his record holding time in the 400 Yard I.M., finishing with a time of 5:10.86. The men's 200 Medley Relay team (Mike Scharvella, Drew Teter, Matt Sleezer, Dan Schilling) set the tone in the first event for the Express, placing first with a time of 1:53.36, nearly 30 seconds ahead of Cobleskill.
Scharvella continued the trend, placing first in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 2:07.29. Sleezer swam an impressive 23.55 in the 50 Freestyle, nearly three seconds ahead of the field. Taylor Dunn swam to a first place finish in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 1:04.70, while Elvis Okumu led the Express in the 100 Freestyle touching the wall with a time of 1:04.30, nearly five seconds ahead of Cobleskill. Chris Guard placed first in the 100 Backstroke, finishing with a time of 1:11.14.
The 400 Freestyle Relay team (Schilling, Dunn, Scharvella, Teter) rounded out the action for the men, placing first with a time of 3:42.95.
In women's action, Spencer not only broke a 20 year old record but also took first in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:09.27 and then led the Express to a first place finish in the 400 Freestyle Relay (Idolyn Villiotti, Gwen Lillie, Britta Kilbourn), edging out Cobleskill by .04 seconds with a time of 4:23.02 in what was one of the most thrilling events of the evening.
Wells will back in action on Saturday, Dec. 4 when they travel to participate in the SUNY Delhi Invitational in Delhi, N.Y. The meet is set to begin at 11:30 a.m.
