The College of Wooster men’s swimming dual at Westminster
(Pa.) College came down to the final event Saturday, and the 200
freestyle relay team consisting of Eric Babbitt, Brendan Horgan,
Michael Saltzman, and Ryan Radtke came through with a victory
(1:27.52) to give the Fighting Scots a thrilling 105-100 win.
Wooster’s women’s team had an easier time with the
Titans, cruising to a 142-63 triumph.
For the Scot men, who improved to 5-1, it marked their first
victory over Westminster’s perennially strong program since
the squads started competing annually in 2002.
Wooster’s other relay, the 200 medley team of Logan LaBerge,
Andrew Olsen, Horgan, and Saltzman, also provided key points via a
first-place finish in a time of 1:39.23, while the Scots were
equally impressive in the individual events.
Babbitt led the way as a double winner, exhibiting versatility with
triumphs in the 1000 freestyle (10:23.15) and 100 free (48.10).
Saltzman continued his breakout season by outpacing the field in
the 50 free (22.37), Radtke swam to a victory in the 400 IM
(4:27.96), and Adel El-Adawy contributed by hitting the wall first
in the 100 backstroke (55.20).
Wooster’s women’s squad combined to win nine of the 13
events, including both relays. The 200 medley team of May Tobar,
Syd Kelly, Alice Case, and Elizabeth Zucco produced a time of
1:54.38, more than two seconds ahead of Westminster’s group,
while Tamari Farquharson, Case, Tobar, and Molly Bittner teamed up
for a top time of 1:41.81 in the 200 freestyle.
Farquharson and Amanda Bailey were double winners in individual
races, with Farquharson sweeping the sprint freestyles and Bailey
doing the same in the distance freestyles. Farquharson cruised to
triumphs in the 50 free (25.24) and 100 free (55.25), while Bailey
touched first in the 500 free (5:39.44) and 1000 free (11:29.38).
Other winners were Case in the 100 butterfly (1:02.20), Meggie
Edwards in the 100 back (1:01.43), and Syd Kelly in the 100
breaststroke (1:09.85).
The Scots are off from competition until Nov. 29-Dec. 1 when they
host the 11-team Wooster Invitational at Wooster High School.
