The men's swimming team posted impressive times two weeks ago in two decisive victories over Clark University and Bridgewater State to inaugurate its season. However, the Jumbos' first real test will be on Thursday against the Babson Beavers.
"Neither of these two teams is really good, so this isn't really a good indication of how we're doing," coach Don Megerle said, referring to Tufts' first opponents of the season. The Jumbos stomped the Clark University Cougars, 225-95 on Nov. 18 and two days later, they handed Bridgewater State's Bears a 165-96 defeat.
While the Jumbos didn't face much competition from either team, they still produced some great performances, especially from some key freshmen.
"Tyler [Duckworth]'s 200-yd. breast was really quite impressive in the second meet," Megerle said. Duckworth, a promising freshman, improved to a 2:14.49 in the meet against Bridgewater after swimming a 2:16.54 in the 200-yd. breaststroke against Clark. He placed first in the event in both meets.
Other swimmers dramatically improved their times as well. Freshman Aeric Solow posted two first place finishes in the meet against Bridgewater, in the 200-yd. individual medley and in the 500-yd. freestyle. "Solow's 4:56 in the 500-yd. free was a good time for us," Megerle said.
Solow's 4:56.81 in the 500-yd. freestyle was almost nine full seconds ahead of second place finisher, Tufts' senior and tri-captain Nic Anderson. Anderson swam a time of 5:05.68. Anderson's 2:03.45 in the 200-yd. butterfly earned him a first place finish against Clark. He also placed first in the 200-yd. freestyle against Bridgewater with a time of 1:48.85.
Coach Megerle was also impressed with his swim. "Anderson's 200-yd. fly time was real good," he said.
Sophomore Ed Edson had a great performance in the Clark meet, with two first place finishes in the 200-yd. and 500-yd. freestyles and a second place finish in the 100-yd. free.
"He really had a great race," Megerle said of Edson.
Megerle used the two meets as opportunities to try out different combinations for the relay squads. Tufts won the 200 freestyle relay event in both meets. Against Clark, junior John Wu, senior John Gunselman, freshman Jonathan Nichols, and senior Steve Capozzi teamed up to defeat the Cougars with a time of 1:37.90. An entirely different team of senior Chris Panagos, and freshmen Greg Schmidt, Macey Harrington-Woodard, and Sam Burlingame swam a time of 1:38.04 to capture first place.
In the 200 Medley, freshman Kaili Mauricio, sophomore Ryan Lahey, and juniors Scott Cohen and Reo Kurosu combined for time of 1:45.3 to capture first place over Clark. Freshmen Aeric Solow and Greg Schmidt teamed up with sophomores Shane Mason and Ed Edson to beat the Bridgewater Bears with a time of 1:46.65.
Divers Pat Girvin and David Liebenstein finished 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the 1-meter and 3-meter events against Clark. Senior Girvin scored a 216.65 on the 1-mtr. platform and a 213.3 on the 3-mtr. Sophomore Liebenstein scored a 195.45 in the 1-mtr and in the 3-mtr. he posted a 178.60.
Despite the improvements made after the Clark and Bridgewater meets, Megerle does not expect any drastic changes at the meet against the Beavers. "I don't think that we'll swim any faster against Babson, but the meet will be competitive," Megerle said.
The Beavers are 2-1 on the season, having finished second to MIT in a tri-meet that also featured the Bowdoin Polar Bears.
"They're going to be tough this year," Megerle said. "They have a strong team returning and a couple of really good freshman. And they love to beat Tufts."
While the Jumbos own a 2-0 record, they need to enter the Babson meet prepared for a battle to the wall. Tufts will hit the water at 7 p.m. in Hamilton pool on Thursday.
