On November 21st the Goucher College Gophers raced against the Arcadia University Knights and won in decisive fashion. The Gophers proved themselves to be the dominate force in the pool as the men took first place in every single event in their 135-28 triumph over Arcadia, earning their second win of the season. The women swam just as well, taking first place in all events expect for the 400 yard freestyle relay. They beat the Knights 126-70.
Additionally, because this was the last home meet of the season, the Gophers held their senior day. The seven seniors on the team received hugs from their coaches, smiled for the cameras, and waved to the crowd in celebration. Laura Rossi, Mara Baron, Pilar Gimenez, Susie Sergeant, Britt Hogstrom, Michael Ambrosio, and Devin Myles were honored.
The seniors shared feelings and reflected on the experiences they’ve had being members of the swim team.
Gimenez, who swam for Goucher for four years, said that being a member of the team has greatly helped her grow as a person. “I’ve improved much more than I had ever thought I? would. In terms of swimming and in terms of people, the team has given?me so much more confidence, she said.
Ambrosio and Myles were both walk-ons their freshman year at Goucher and have contributed greatly to the program throughout the years. Despite them both being new to the sport of swimming, they learned and improved over their four years, and have both served as team captain.
“I think being a walk on has been an amazing and challenging experience,” said Myles. “This year’s team has done better than Mike and I could have ever wished for.”
Along with Ambrosio and Myles, the rest of the men’s team stepped up and sent the two seniors off with impressive victories. The meet started off with the 400 yard medley. The team of Myles, junior Charlie Rooney, and sophomores Georgi Shalamanov and Kyle Williams won with a time of 3:48.31.
Following that, seven men’s swimmers took first place in their individual events. Ambrosio touched in first in two of his three individual events, the 1,000 yard freestyle and the 200 yard breaststroke. Myles also placed first in his two events, finishing the 50 yard freestyle in 24.32 and 54.24 in the 100 yard freestyle.
Along with the two seniors, Shalamanov, Rooney, Williams, and junior Steve Baum and freshman Kevin Wons all placed first in one of their individual events. Wons touched first in the 200 yard freestyle and Baum won the 500 freestyle. Shalamanov prevailed in the 400 yard individual medley, and Williams finished first in the 200 yard backstroke. Rooney was victorious in the 200 yard butterfly.
On the women’s side, Goucher had five swimmers place first in their individual events to help the beat the Knights. The meet started off with the medley relay team of junior Emily Hasse, sophomore Victoria Adinolfi, and freshmen Rachel Lyon and Abby Wegman. They completed the event in 4:43.93.
Of those swimmers, Hasse, Adinolfi, and Wegman all placed first in their respective events. Hasse placed first in the 200 yard backstroke, Adinolfi secured a victory in the 200 yard butterfly, and Wegman placed first in the 200 yard backstroke.
Junior Lindsay Phillipson-Weiner and Hogstrom both took first place in all three of their individual events. Phillipson-Weiner sealed victories in the 1000 yard freestyle, the 500 yard freestyle, and in the 400 yard individual medley. With her time of 5:09.54, she became one of the top ten fastest swimmers in the 400 yard medley.
Hogstrom, who holds the Goucher record in the 50, 100, and 200 yard freestyle, placed first in the same three events as she swept Arcadia.
The Women’s team is 3-4, and will swim against Notre Dame next week. The Men’s team is 2-4. They will travel with the women to York College for a dual meet against York and Salisbury University.
Swim team dominates on Senior Day
Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Updated: Monday, August 9, 2010 20:08
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