On Nov. 18, UR’s swimming and diving teams hit the road for a showdown with Brandeis University. Both the men’s and women’s squads cruised past the Judges in the final tune-up before the Liberty League Championships.
After falling to Union the previous week, the women’s team rebounded with an impressive 157-105 victory. The team boasted 12 wins in 14 events and had four multiple-race winners.
All four multiple winners were a part of the 400-yard freestyle relay. Sophomore Jill Endres and seniors Karen Gromer, Michelle Gruen and Kari Joyce combined to beat the Brandeis A team by almost 10 seconds. Joyce, Gromer and Endres teamed up with junior Denise Moseman to win the other relay race, the 200 medley relay.
Gruen took first in the 1650 (1 mile) free, the 100 free and the 400 individual medley. Junior Danielle Scherry took second in the 1650 free, while Endres and freshman Libby Cavagnaro went 2-3 behind Gruen in the 100 free. Sophomore Megan Miller placed third in the 400 IM.
Joyce dominated the 200 backstroke, winning the race by over ten seconds. She also placed first in the 200 free, while Moseman took third in the event.
Gromer won the 200 breaststroke, with senior Mary Carol Karl in second. In the 100 butterfly, Gromer was dead even with her Brandeis counterpart, earning a tie for first. Endres rounded out the multiple winners by taking first in the 50 free by just .04 seconds.
Two other swimmers won individual events. Scherry and Moseman finished first and second, repectively, in the 500 free. Karl was first to the wall in the 100 back.
The men were equally impressive, earning a 143-119 win. Senior Craig Matt was unstoppable, winning all four of the events he entered.
Matt swam the third leg of the winning 400 free relay, along with sophomore Ryan White, freshman Tim Anderson and senior Anthony Furstoss.
He took care of business in the sprints, winning the 100 free and the 200 free. White took third in the former and senior Zach Freed was third in the latter.
Matt completed his sweep by winning the 200 IM, coming in ahead of teammate Freed, who took second.
Sophomore Bruce Maki was in top form as well, winning three individual events. He outclassed the field in the 1650 free, beating the closest Brandeis swimmer by over a minute. Freshman Matt Kaule checked in 50 seconds back in second place. Maki also took first in the 500 free and the 200 fly.
Freshman Garrett Lam was the other member of the team to score more than one victory. He controlled the backstroke races, winning the 100 and the 200. Classmate Dave Madar placed second and third in the respective races.
Diving results were not available for either team.
The teams are now focused on this weekend’s Liberty League championships, being held right here at UR. The first round of races starts Friday at 4 p.m.
Moeller is a member of the class of 2009.
