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Volume CXXXIII, Number 11 |
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Bears making a splash in NESCAC
MELISSA PERRIN
STAFF WRITER
The Bowdoin swim teams have been practicing for only three weeks, but they are already beginning to reap the benefits of their hard work. After losing their season openers to MIT, both the men and women's teams swam to victories over Babson last Saturday. In addition, captain Brian McGregor '04 scored 272.55 points in one meter diving, which qualified him for Nationals next March.
"What a great start to the season," said coach Brad Burnham. "We are so far ahead of where we were last year and we are just getting started. Things are going to be very interesting around the conference this year and it is apparent that we will be in the mix."
For the men's team, this meet came down to the final relay, in which both relays beat Babson's best to win by a score of 119-117. In addition to his victory on the one meter board, McGregor also won three meter diving with a score of 227.70. Co-captain Mike Long '04, who placed second in the conference championships last season, continued his dominance with a win in the 50 free, with a time of 22.27.
Roger Burleigh '06, one of the NESCAC's top butterfliers, turned in an excellent first performance, winning the 100 fly by almost two seconds in 53.23. Burleigh also had a strong performance in the 200 free, coming in just behind MIT's Craig Edwards with a time of 1:47.07.
The men also saw several impressive swims from some newcomers. Max Goldstein '07 swam to second place in both the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200 yard Individual Medley, while Jeff "Pikey" Pike '04 contributed points in the sprint events.
Katie Chapman '07 led the women's team with a provisional National qualifying time of 2:12.25 in the 200 Individual Medley. Chapman also came within tenths of a second of the college record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 54.35. Nicole "Grandma" Goyette '05 disproved her nickname with a blistering 1:03.51 in the 100-yard backstroke.
Team Distance went long and hard, led by first-year Megan "Machine" McLean, who turned in two impressive second place performances in the 500- and 1000- yard freestyle, in 5:22.06 and 11:06.66. Fellow teamster Laura "The Champ" Welsh '05 got back into fine distance form, with great races in the same events. Newcomer Meredith Lammert '06 swam an impressive first 1000-yard freestyle, while Erin "Turbo" Turban '06 scored points in the 500. Bowdoin looked strong in the 100-yard butterfly, with a 1-2 finish by McLean and junior Melissa Hayden.
Diver Tori Tudor '06, who earned all-NESCAC honors last season, swept the diving events, and Mindy Chism '06, who is diving again after taking a year off, scored valuable points as well.
"Our first-year swimmers are contributing a huge amount and that is a tribute to the leadership we have in the upper classes," said Burnham. "We are only three weeks into the season but many people are already picking up right where they left off. It is important that we focus on the task at hand and take it one practice at a time and one race at a time."
Both teams will swim Bates tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the pool. Tomorrow, the women's team will take on Tufts at noon, which will be followed by the men's meet at 3:00 p.m.
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