Gambier, Ohio- The Wittenberg University swimming & diving teams opened the 2018-19 season on Saturday (10/20) afternoon at the annual season-opening Kenyon Swimming & Diving Relay Invite. The women's team finished fifth out of seven teams with 34 total points, while the men's squad finished sixth out of seven teams with 24 total points. Kenyon won the team title on both sides as the Lords and Ladies both topped the team standings in their respective genders with 112 total points. The meet featured all relay events and culminated with a mixed-gender competition in the 200-medley event.
On the women's side, the Tigers had a pair of relay squads finish in the top-six, led by the team of senior Morgan Siefert, freshman Emma Menjivar and freshman Claire Bergefurd finishing fifth overall in the 3x500 free relay with a combined time of 17:58.48. The women's squad also raced to a sixth-place finish in the 200-breast relay, as junior Annelise Gibson joined with the freshmen trio of Abby Dunasky, Sophia Spriggs and Breann Webb combined to post a time of 2:23.37. The women's team also racked up points in the diving well as the duo of sophomore Kateleigh Lorimer and freshman Moonstar Davis combined for a third-place finish in the women's 1-meter diving event with a combined score of 297.35.
For the men, three different relay teams posted ninth-place finishes at the season-opening meet, starting with the team of junior Brad Barren, freshman Noah Curry, junior Nick Angeli and freshman Ben Hongell reaching the wall ninth in the 500-crescendo relay with a time of 4:28.60. Barren was also joined by freshman Casey Conrad, freshman Anthony Petruzzi and sophomore Trey Gregory in the 200-fly relay with a time of 1:41.41. Finally, Angeli and Petruzzi were joined by sophomore Connor Flannagan in the 3x500-free relay with a combined time of 16:14.11.
The meet concluded with the fun and entertaining mixed-gender 200-medley relay that featured a pair of Tiger teams. Leading the way for Wittenberg in the event was the team of Siefert, Petruzzi, junior Marita Banta-Long and Curry with a sixth-place time of 1:53.88.
The Tigers are now slated to open the home portion of the 2018-19 schedule next Friday (10/26) at 6:00 p.m. against NCAC-foe Ohio Wesleyan.