November 12, 2008
Shoremen Edge Sea Gulls, 107-98
Win in Final Event Puts Washington Over the Top

SALISBURY, MD - Sixteen-hundredths of a second made all the difference as the Washington College men's swim team extended its winning streak against Eastern Shore rival Salisbury University to 18 meets in a row with a 107-98 victory over the host Sea Gulls tonight in Salisbury. Washington (1-1) held a 96-92 lead in the meet heading into the final event - the 200-meter freestyle relay - and needed a first-place finish in the event to hold on for the victory. Junior Chris Soper (Towson, MD/Loyola Blakefield), junior Dylan Pollock (Savannah, GA/Benedictine Military), senior Phil Munger (Devon, PA/Conestoga), and senior Dan Wentzel (Exton, PA/Henderson) delivered, winning the event in 1:41.88, .16 seconds better than Salisbury.

Washington's win in the meet's opening event, the 200-meter medley relay, was also a big factor in the victory as freshman Nick Longworth (Media, PA/Strath Haven), freshman Austin Auger (McLean, VA/Langley), Pollock, and Wentzel won the race in 1:53.76.

Soper won two individual events for the Shoremen, taking the 50-meter freestyle in 25.49 and the 100-meter freestyle (56.52). Longworth was first in the 100-meter backstroke in 1:03.59 and second in the 200-meter freestyle in 2:04.62. Pollock was first in the 100-meter butterfly (1:02.18), Auger won the 200-meter individual medley (2:22.39), and Wentzel was a winner in the 400-meter freestyle (4:29.97).

Sophomore Matt Violette (Westbrook, ME/Westbrook) added second-place finishes in the 800-meter freestyle (9:32.23) and 400-meter freestyle (4:34.35), while Munger was second in the 100-meter butterfly (1:03.04) and freshman Johnny Helenek (Gaithersburg, MD/Gaithersburg) finished second in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:11.27).

The Shoremen return to action Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. non-conference meet at St. Mary's (MD).

EVENT RESULTS