The Maroons had yet another successful weekend at the Myers-McLoraine Pool, finishing first in the Chicago Duals. After returning from a long break, the swimmers and divers jumped back into a tough practice schedule last week, which undoubtedly paid off as the Maroons improved to 2-0 in dual meets. They have also won both of their invitationals this season.
“We won a decisive victory for both men’s and women’s teams,” second-year Brian Weisbecker said. “A couple people really stepped up and had terrific meets despite the break and hard week.”
The South Siders faced a number of talented opponents on Friday, but the Maroons won six of their 12 events to finish at the head of the pack.
Fourth-year Eric Hallman, first-year Jonas Fowler, and second-years Thomas Meek and Matthew Veldman clinched the top men’s finishers spot in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:26.70. Third-year diver Matt Staab dominated the one-meter dive with a score of 462.80.
The women also held their own with first-year Maya Scheidl finishing first in the 500-yard freestyle (5:16.31). Scheidl, along with fellow first-year Michelle Law, third-year captain Jenny Hill, and fourth-year Vivian Yuen took first in the 400-yard medley relay (4:00.54). Other top finishers include first-year Alison Wall in the 200-yard IM (2:11.46) and Hill in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.60 seconds.
Saturday was no different for Chicago. After securing their spot as the top finisher on Friday, the Maroons maintained the title the following day.
Veldman continued his strong performance by taking first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.77), and third-year Anthony Restaino took first in the three-meter dive (522.25).
The women also continued to hold the top spot, winning a majority of their events. Hill prevailed yet again, taking first in the 400-yard IM (4:39.34). Other individual top place finishers were second-year Ciara Hu in the 100-yard butterfly (1:00.10), Wall in the 200-yard backstroke (2:08.64), and Scheidl in the 100-yard freestyle (52.95). In addition, the women gained victories in relays; the 800-yard freestyle relay team consisted of first-years Abby Erdmann and Cara LoPiano, second-year Karen Chu, and Hill, and the 400-yard freestyle relay team was made up of first-years Elizabeth Joyce, Scheidl, Michelle Law, and second-year sister Jen Law (3:38.17).
Ultimately, the Maroons won the mens’ field with 981 points and the womens’ field with 947 points, both teams finishing ahead of runner-up Olivet Nazarene, which came in second in both fields.
“Overall it was a strong performance and we’re hoping to carry it through to next weekend when we face off against tough DI opponent University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee,” Weisbecker said.
The South Siders will host UW–Milwaukee on Saturday, January 18 at 1 p.m. at the Myers-McLoraine Pool.
