Season Opening Dual Goes Wooster's Way

Willie Smith and the Tiger divers excelled in the season-opening dual against Wooster. File Photo | Nick Falzerano
Willie Smith and the Tiger divers excelled in the season-opening dual against Wooster. File Photo | Nick Falzerano

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers kicked off the 2015-16 dual meet season with a pair of home losses to North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Wooster.

The Scots topped the men's dual by a score of 148-95, while the women's competition went Wooster's way by a score of 129-108. The Tigers get back into action at Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Despite the team losses, there were plenty of strong individual performances for the Tigers, starting in the diving well, where sophomore Kaitlyn Black (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) captured first place in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions. On the men's side, freshman Willie Smith (Goldsboro, NC/Eastern Wayne) placed second in the 1-meter and third in the 3-meter and senior Thomas Chuna (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) took third in the 1-meter and second in the 3-meter.

Three men touched the wall first in their event during the meet. Senior Steve Stuthers (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) led the way in the 200-yard Individual Medley, freshman Sam Bott (Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling) finished first in the 1000-yard freestyle, and sophomore Lucas George (Brecksville, Ohio/Independence) was tops in the 200-yard breaststroke.

The Tiger women placed first in four events, starting with the 400-yard medley relay, thanks to the efforts of senior Erin Swardenski (Fremont, Calif./Washington), senior Madeline Kraft (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth), sophomore Samantha Petruzzi (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and senior Dani Lacy (Louisville, Ky./Louisville Collegiate School). Lacy added a first in the 50-yard freestyle, Petruzzi topped the field in the 200-yard butterfly, and Kraft took the blue ribbon in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Written By: Ryan Maurer