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Miami men's swim defeats Xavier

Photo by Angelo Gelfuso

By Jack Brewer, For The Miami Student

Capturing wins in eight of 14 events, the Miami University men's swimming and diving team officially opened up its season with a 142-113 win over Xavier University Saturday afternoon at the Nixon Aquatic Center.

Head coach Pete Lindsay was pleased by the performance of the team.

"The enthusiasm level was up and they were working very hard," Lindsay said. "We saw some pretty strong finishes, which is something that we've been working on."

Freshman Ross Westrick grabbed two individual first place finishes in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 47.12 and the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:42.41.

Seniors Sam Crockett and Joe Baumgartner, junior Heshan Unamboowe and sophomores Jack Strauss and Bryan McNamara all turned in first place finishes. Crockett placed first in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:12.56, and Baumgartner took the 50-yard freestyle at 20.53. Unamboowe finished first in the 200-yard backstroke in a time of 1:55.95 and Strauss won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 52.71. McNamara was the only Miami swimmer in the 1000-yard freestyle, finishing 10 seconds faster than the nearest competitor with a time of 9:45.69.

Freshman Pete Simcox took first in the 100-yard butterfly with a time 52.30. Ross Rybakowicz, also a freshman, came in second place in the 200-yard butterfly clocking a time of 1:56.96.

The RedHawks took first in both of the relays. Juniors Sean Neri, Evan Bader, Davis Staley and sophomore Lucas Brock won the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3:29.44. In the 200-yard freestyle, Baumgartner, Westrick, Strauss and junior Jake Prodeohl won with a time of 1:23.98.

Senior and team captain Andrew Kilkenny was also pleased by the team's performance and has high hopes moving forward.

"We are going to be quicker and more competitive," Kilkenny said. "We came in fifth my freshman year, and I expect us to be competing for second or third place by the end of the season."

The men next compete Thursday, Oct. 30 in the Nixon Aquatic Center against Purdue at 7 p.m.

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