Shelley Grostefon
Senior Sports Writer
The Fighting Scots swimming & diving team commenced their dual meet season with a win over Wittenberg University at home on Saturday, Oct. 22. The men’s team won 125-80 and the women’s team won 130-92. The team has competed in one other meet this year, which was on Oct. 15 at Kenyon College. The men’s team placed fourth out of eight and the women’s team placed third out of eight.
Head Coach Rob Harrington attributes this early success to the vast effort given in practice throughout the semester by his team. “I attribute our success over the weekend to a strong effort from the team. We have been working hard in practice and I think our efforts during the week paid off in competition,” said Harrington.
Against Wittenberg, Conner Gelwicks ’17 placed first in both the 200 individual medley (2:07.91) and the 100 backstroke (55.42). Due to his dominating performance, Gelwicks was named as the NCAC swimming & diving athlete of the week for men, an honor he also received twice in the 2015-2016 season.
Cameron Gelwicks ’19 came in first for the 200 freestyle (1:49.38), Ryan Campbell ’19 finished second (1:50.67) and Trey Schopen ’20 came in third (1:53.91).
Campbell also won the 100 free (49.97) and Aaron Brown ’17 came in second (50.12). Conner Gelwicks, Brown, Schopen and Bruke Poeting ’19 teamed up to come in first for the 200 medley relay (1:41.04). Schopen won the men’s 100 butterfly (54.15), while Garrett Layde ’19 took second (56.49) and Avery Wilson ’17 took third (56.62).
For women, Emma Fikse ‘19 got first place both in the 200 free (2:00:88) and the 500 free (5:27:42). Nell Kacmarek ’20 came in first place in the 1000 free (11:21:13), and Anna McGlade ’17 placed second (11:38.40). Lissy de la Chapelle ’17 came in first place in the 50 free (26.07). Maggie Layde ’18 came in first in the 100 fly (1:02.27) and Kalla Sturonas ’19 placed second (1:02.95). Wooster dominated in the 100 back with Allison Hsu ’20 in first (1:02.85), Kacmarek in second (1:05.86) and Allison Clough ’19 (1:06.76). Hsu, Sturonas, Fikse and Abby Blinka ’19 came in first (1:55.07) in the 200 yard medley relay.
Conner Gelwicks attributes this success to the team’s supportive nature. “The whole team has been pushing each other in the pool during practice,” he said. Fikse agreed, “Our team is so supportive of each other and thrive off of each individual’s success.”
The team is benefitting from the addition of first-years. “They add a lot of depth to our events,” Gelwicks said. Fikse also noted their usefulness, “They keep all of the upperclassmen positive and provide lots of depth for the team.” Harrington agrees, “Our first-years have played a significant role in our success so far.”
For improving throughout the season, Fikse noted the importance of having short-term and long-term goals. According to Harrington, the team’s main goal is to continue to improve each week throughout the season.
Their next meet will be Saturday, Oct. 29 at home against Oberlin College at 1 p.m.