The men's swimming and diving team picked up where it left off last semester, winning its first meet of the new year in convincing fashion.
This win, however, was perhaps the team's best of the season, as the swimmers took the top three places in each of five events en route to a 191-152 victory over Div. I foe Boston College Wednesday at Hamilton Pool.
Two weeks of intense training in Florida over the break had left many of the swimmers drained, but the wear and tear did not show in the convincing win, putting the Jumbos' record in head-to-head meets at 3-0.
"That preparation went fantastically," senior tri-captain Jeff Goldberg said. "It was two weeks of really intense training. I think every year that is the make-or-break point where everyone puts in quality training. It is amazing we did so well because everyone was really broken down."
The Jumbos started to take control early, as they had the top three finishers in the fourth and fifth events. Freshman Matthew Glenn continued his emergence as one of the top newcomers for Tufts, winning the 100-yard backstroke in 54.53, just ahead of classmate Michael Del Moro, who is also a staff writer for the Daily, and senior tri-captain Sean Sullivan.
The Jumbos followed that performance up with another strong effort in the 100 breaststroke, as junior James Longhurst picked up one of his two wins on the day with sophomore Lawrence Chan and freshman Zed Debbaut coming in behind him.
Junior Will Froehlich finished first in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:02.34 before the Jumbos again took the top three places in the next two events. Freshman Gordy Jenkins took the 50-yard butterfly in 25.53, just ahead of juniors Ben Mitchell and Ben Moskowitz. The Jumbos then saw junior Andrew Shields edge freshman teammates Andrew Altman and David Meyer in the 50-yard freestyle.
"I think it was our best performance of the season thus far," coach Adam Hoyt said. "After spending two weeks away from campus with a high volume of training, the guys were certainly tired, but they stepped up with a really high level of energy and focus and raced really well."
Tufts also swept the 200-yard breaststroke, with freshman Chris Vorlicek topping the field in 2:18.28 ahead of classmate Debbaut and junior Ivor Asztalos. The Jumbos also received wins from Froehlich in the 200 butterfly and sophomore Rob Matera in the 1-meter dive. Matera continued his dominance in the diving events, finishing with the top score in the 3-meter event after Tufts had clinched the meet.
Fellow sophomore Matt Salzberg also had a top time in the 100 butterfly event, which was raced as an exhibition.
The Jumbos have seen some of their younger contributors emerge in key spots so far this season. Glenn and Del Moro have become a great tandem in the backstroke events, as they finished first and second respectively in both the 100-yard and 50-yard events. Meyer has also been an important addition for Tufts, which he showed Wednesday with victories in the 100 and 200 freestyle.
"I think for our team, our team depth is always a very large factor," Hoyt said. "The guys are supportive of each other, and because of that and the depth, it really helps set the tone for the meet. It is never just one individual; different guys are stepping up to race every weekend."
BC, meanwhile, could not overcome the Jumbos' depth despite a strong individual performance by freshman John Maloy, who picked up three of the four top times for the Eagles. Maloy's first-place finishes in the 1,000- and 500-yard freestyle and the 200 individual medley were not enough to stop Tufts from turning the last four events into exhibitions as the Jumbos dominated the meet.
The impressive performance comes at a good time for Tufts, which will take on NESCAC competition tomorrow afternoon at Wesleyan in a meet that will also include last year's conference champion, Williams. The Ephs should be the Jumbos' toughest test so far this season, but the team is confident.
"I think that if you asked any guy on the team today, everyone would tell you that was one of the best meets we have ever swum," Goldberg said. "I think we will ride off that momentum and do really well on Saturday."
"Williams is always a tough team," Hoyt added. "They are the team to beat in our conference. I think the team is well prepared to race this weekend. Williams and MIT are our toughest two dual meets of the season and they are great in that they help us really get prepared for our championships."
