Swim Teams Sweep Colby & Bates

January 10, 2009

The Panther swimming and diving teams opened up '09 with a pair of wins over Colby. The men were 181-89 winners, while the women picked up a 179-101 victory. The next day, Middlebury made it two straight wins as they completed a weekend sweep of Maine schools. On Sunday, the men defeated Bates 230-57, while the women were 210-89 winners.

Sophomore Alyssa Ha (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) led the women against Colby, winning three events on the afternoon. Ha was a victor in the 400 IM (4:40.21), 100 fly (1:00.64) and the 100 free (54.53). Also winning twice for the women were sophomore Jessie Ward (Pittsford, N.Y.) in the 50 breaststroke (32.11) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.70) and sophomore Emily McDonald (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) in the 50 fly (27.32) and 50 free (24.87). First-year swimmer Kazu Asaga (Chappaqua, N.Y.) and senior Kevin O'Rourke (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) led the men with two wins apiece. O'Rourke won the 500 free (4:49.75) and the 100 IM (56.05), while the rookie was a winner in the 50 fly (24.57) and 100 fly (53.44).

Middlebury dominated against Bates, winning all but three events. McDonald paced the women with wins in the 50 free (24.97), 100 free (53.99) and the 100 fly (1:01.88), while senior Zach Woods (Monroe, N.Y.) led the men with wins in the 100 back (54.11), 200 back (1:58.44)200 IM (2:04.10).

O'Rourke, Ha, rookie diver Meagan Collins (Darien, Conn.), junior Nick Daly (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), sophomore Matthew Vukich (Madison, Wis.) and junior Beth Bacon (Novelty, Ohio) each won two events against the Bobcats.