The College of Wooster women’s swimming dual with
Westminster (Pa.) College came down to the final events Saturday
inside Timken Natatorium, and the Fighting Scots pulled out a
139-123 win. Wooster’s men’s team had a much tougher
time with the Titans, falling by a 152-132 count.
For the Scot women, who improved to 5-1, it marked their
third-straight victory over Westminster’s perennially strong
program since the squads started competing annually in 2002.
Wooster’s opening relay, the 200 medley team of Meggie
Edwards, Tamari Farquharson, Alice Case, and Molly Bittner got the
Scots started on the right track, as the quartet stopped the clock
in 1:52.68. In the final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle team
of Case, Bittner, May Tobar, and Farquharson book ended the dual
for Wooster, producing a time of 3:43.63, over five seconds ahead
of Westminster’s group, and sealed the dual win.
The women combined to win just six of the 16 events, but were
victorious both relays and racked up points elsewhere. They
showcased their depth in the individual events picking up valuable
team points.
Edwards cruised to a triumph in the 100 back (1:01.01), while two
events later, the Scots finished claimed the top-three spots with
Melissa Haug picked up the win in the 200 butterfly (2:14.84)
followed by Kristine Mann and sister Rebecca Haug in second and
third for 16 points, respectively. Bittner and Farquaharson battled
to the wall in the 100 freestyle, as Bittner (55.28) nipped
Farquharson (55.48) for the event win. Also of note, Case notched a
win in the 100 butterfly (1:01.27), while the trio of Rebecca Haug
(2:18.68), Allie Kibler-Campbell (2:19.68), and Elaine Coladarci
(2:24.99) grabbed spots two through four in the 200 individual
medley for eight crucial points late in the dual.
On the men’s side, Eric Babbitt led the way as a triple
winner, exhibiting versatility with triumphs in the 200 butterfly
(1:59.50), the 100 freestyle (48.14) and the 100 butterfly (53.70).
Luke Knezevic continued his breakout season on the diving board for
the Scots, taking home event titles in both the one-meter (275.50)
and three-meter (270.05) competitions. Logan LaBerge swam to a
victory in the 200 backstroke (1:58.60), and Adel El-Adawy
contributed by hitting the wall first in the 100 backstroke
(55.06). The quartet of LaBerge, Andrew Olsen, Brendan Horgan, and
Andrew Saltzman picked up a victory in the 200 medley relay,
stopping the clock in 1:38.87.
With the setback, the men dip to 2-4 in dual meet action.
The Scots are off from competition until Dec. 4-6 when they host
the Wooster Invitational at Wooster High School.