WOOSTER, Ohio – After three days of competition at the College of Wooster Invitational, the Case Western Reserve University men's swimming team finished first overall by a half-point (1,371.5) to edge Edinboro University (PA), while the women's team scored a sixth-place finish with 818 points amongst the 10 competing schools. Highlighting the weekend was a school-record performance in the 100-yard backstroke by senior Robby Browning (Grosse Pointe, MI/Grosse Point South).
Browning placed fourth overall in the 100 back, touching the wall in a time of 53.30. He also took third in the 200 backstroke in 1:57.43.
Also for the men, the 400-yard medley relay team composed of Browning, senior Steven Jacobs (Tallmadge, OH/Tallmadge) and juniors Nathan Vonder Haar (Gahanna, OH/Columbus Academy) and Michael Lin (Raritan, NJ/Williamsville North) were event winners with a time of 3:41.54. In a separate heat, Browning and fellow senior, Peter Fino (Sterling Heights, MI/Detroit Jesuit), along with freshman Gus Bailey (Grove City, OH/Grove City) and Lin also placed third in the 400-yard medley relay finals.
In the 200-yard medley relay, Case wound up third on the strength of a 1:35.98 mark by Browning, Fino, freshman Sean Nickley (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) and Bailey. The Spartans claimed second as well in the 200-yard freestyle relay where a freshman foursome, which included Nick Clyde (Ann Arbor, MI/Huron), Mckelvey Packard (Evanston, IL/Evanston Township), Nickley and Jonathan Yuan (Portland, OR/Westview), put up a time of 1:30.84 to finish runner-up.
The Spartans also took second-place in the 800-yard freestyle in 7:07.82 with a quartet comprised of sophomore Chris Emr (Rockville, MD/Thomas Sprigg Wootton), junior Sam Geiger (Westlake, OH/St. Edward), Lin and freshman Heath Hudgins (Chapel Hill, NC/East Chapel Hill).
Individually, Geiger also was second in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a finals mark of 16:30.92 and a third-place finisher in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:46.69. Clyde also finished third in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:16.15. Freshman diver Daniel Jacobson (Solon, OH/Solon) placed second in the three-meter dive with a score of 369.65 and third in the one-meter dive with a point total of 348.05.
For the women, the 400-yard freestyle relay team of senior Roxanne Leyshon (Cambridge, OH/Mercersburg Academy), juniors Jessica Nuhfer (Warren, PA/Warren Area) and Stephanie Campbell (Highland Heights, OH/Mayfield), and freshman Maggie Dillione (Newton, PA/Council Rock North) was fourth in 3:40.06.
The 400 medley relay team of seniors Ellen Crummy (Butler, PA/Butler), Jacquie Buckler (Brookfield, WI/Brookfield East) and Leyshon along with Dillione placed fifth in 4:05.89. Leyshon and Dillione also teamed with Campbell and freshman Catie Gormley (North Royalton, OH/North Royalton) for a fifth-place showing in the 200-yard medley relay in a time of 1:51.74.
Individually, Dillione was fifth in the 100-yard fly with a time of 59.58 and seventh in the 200 fly at 2:14.28. Buckler was seventh in the 200 breaststroke at 2:32.43. Leyshon was seventh in both the 100 breaststroke at 1:10.40 and 100 free at 54.43.
The Spartans will now have over a month layover between competitions, as the team will swim next against Notre Dame College (OH) in a dual meet at the Veale Natatorium on January 8. The first event is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
