The Lawrence University swim and dive team was challenged by the UW-River Falls Falcons last Friday, Nov. 4 at the Lawrence University Buchanan Kiewit Center pool. The women’s team tied, 143-143, and the men’s team barely pushed ahead to a 125.5-123.5 victory.
Freshman Taylor Winter dominated the women’s competition. She took first in the women’s 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 11:03.19, an entire lap ahead of UW-River Falls’ second place finisher, Hannah Wiseman and three laps ahead of the last place competitor. Winter went on to win the women’s 100-yard butterfly as well as the women’s 500-yard freestyle with times of 1:05.47 and 5:24.98, respectively.
Hannah Gabriel also had a strong performance during the meet. She took first in the women’s 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:02 and placed second in the women’s 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:29.71. Gabriel and Winter teamed up with Chelsea Hameister and Julia Heller in the final race, the 200-yard freestyle relay, to defeat UW-River Falls with a time of 1:47.99.
Sophomore Helen Noble took two first-place victories in the 50-yard backstroke and the 100-yard backstroke with times of 32.63 and 1:09.52, respectively. Other notable victories include Hameister in the 100-yard freestyle (59.66) and Heller in the 50-yard freestyle (27.03).
Senior Peter Brengel led the men’s team to victory over the Falcons. Brengel took first in the men’s 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard backstroke with times of 23.61, 26.45 and 57.01, respectively. He was also part of the 200-yard medley relay along with Cameron Gmehlin, Pat Vincent and Walker Brengel that defeated UW-River Falls with a time of 1:44.48.
Vincent also had a strong meet, winning both the men’s 100-yard butterfly and 50-yard butterfly with times of 1:00.16 and 26.27 and placing third in the men’s 50-yard freestyle.
Other notable performances include David Dulak, who took second in both the men’s 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard backstroke, and Tom Vogel, who managed to tie for second in the 50-yard butterfly, which is virtually unheard of in the swimming realm.
The men’s 200-yard freestyle relay team, comprised of Walker Brengel, Charlie Malchow, Tom Vogel and Gmehlin, brought it home in the final event of the evening, defeating UW-River Falls with a time of 1:38.78.
When asked to comment on the team’s performance, sophomore Mariel Frost noted, “I thought the team performed well. Coach Andrew Fleek made a very important point, though: every single person, and every single swim matters. While we didn’t lose, it is important to continue working hard in practice in order to keep improving individual times and the strength of the team as a whole.”
The Viking swim and dive team will compete again Saturday, Nov. 12 at UW-Whitewater.