Matt Erenpreiss
GAMBIER, Ohio — The Wittenberg swimming and diving teams traveled north to take on Kenyon, home of the defending national champion Lords men's team and the perennial powerhouse Ladies women's team. The Tigers fell on both sides, by a score of 115-175 for the women and 124-163 for the men. The men did, however, take home a pool and school record for their efforts.
Senior diver Matt Erenpreiss (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) provided the highlight of the day with a 310.80 from the three-meter board, setting Kenyon Aquatic Center and Wittenberg University records, earning an NCAA provisional qualifying score in the process. The 'B-cut' is his second of the season.
The men saw five total first-place finishes, led by dual number ones from the one-meter and three-meter boards by Erenpreiss. Senior Neil Anderson (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood) took top honors in the 500 freestyle and was second in the 200 freestyle, while sophomore Mickey Murphy (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) finished first in the 400 individual medley.
The men's 200 freestyle relay team of freshman J.B. Easley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seven Hills), sophomore Matt Parker (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes), freshman Brendan Eggers (Rye, NY/Rye) and sophomore Andrew Tran (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) touched the wall first to round out the team's first-place finishes. Senior Taylor Smith (Mansfield, Ohio/Senior) turned in a second-place finish in the 100 backstroke, and freshman Michael Garza (Dayton, Ohio/Hampton) added a second-place finish in the 200 breaststroke. Junior Chris Culkin (Novi, Mich./Northville) rounded things out with a second-place showing in the 1,000 freestyle.
The women were also led by a diver, with junior Megan Shubitowski (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson) placing first from both the one-meter and three-meter boards. Sophomore Keaton Hannon (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh) earned first in the 100 butterfly and third in the 200 butterfly, while senior Emily Roesch (Oakland, Mich./Lake Orion) took first in the 400 individual medley.
The 200 freestyle relay squad of senior Adeline Brym (Mansfield, Ohio/Lexington), sophomore Sinjin McNicholl (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis), freshman Ward McNulty (Glencoe, Ill./New Trier) and sophomore Cecilia Wille (Knoxville, Tenn./Farragut) notched a first-place finish, while sophomore Megan Tassone (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline) was second in the 200 backstroke.
The Wittenberg swimming and diving teams next prepare for the three-day extravaganza of the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships, hosted by Allegheny College in Canton, Ohio, from Thursday, Feb. 11 to Saturday, Feb. 13.