Women’s swimming remains undefeated to start season
Senior Sydney Boswell finished runner-up in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly Saturday.
Photo credit: Kuhn Minn Ohn ‘19
By Claire Healey, Staff Writer
The Gettysburg College women’s swim team improved to 2-0 overall for their 2016-2017 season. The lady Bullets defeated Washington College 134-128.
This was the first true test of the Bullet’s depth this season. Following their defeat of Bryn Mawr in their season opener, where they showed off their speed, Gettysburg was tested by Washington’s stars. Gettysburg won only 4 of 14 events of the day, but managed 8 runner-up and 12 third place finishes to out-score the Shorewomen.
Taking charge for the Bullets was senior captain Caroline Moyer, who came away with three victories for Gettysburg. Moyer won the 100-yard breastroke in 1:08.74 and 200-yard breaststroke in 2:30.85, respectively.
Moyer holds school records in the 100-breastroke, 200-breastroke, 200-medley relay and 400-medley relay.
Continuing her dominance, Moyer then swam the breaststroke leg on the winning 200-yard medley relay with first-years Becca Maroney and Kate Crilly, and junior Nicole Farina contributing as well.
“This year our depth has grown,” said Moyer. “Everyone on the team contributes to its success, and all of our swims this weekend aren’t a reflection of individuals but of the team. In addition, at this meet we did a great job of staying relaxed and just enjoying swimming fast.”
Farina also had a very successful day for the lady Bullets with a solo victory in the 200-yard butterfly. Senior Sydney Boswell came up big for Gettysburg in the butterfly events with two runner-up finishes in both the 200 and 100-yard butterfly, respectively. Farina took third in the 100-yard butterfly to help Gettysburg’s depth in the stroke.
The Gettysburg first-years continued to make impressive debuts in their second meet as Bullets. Karley Devine and Madeline Castle earned second place in the 500-yard and 1,000-yard freestyle race. Devine also would take third in the 200-yard freestyle, as well as be part of the runner-up 400-yard freestyle relay of the day. Castle also earned a third place finish in the 500-freestyle.
Other lady Bullets who contributed to Gettysburg’s immense second place finishes included sophomores Paige Griesse in the 100 and 200-freestyle and Johnna Hock in the 200-individual medley, and senior Maddie Tulp in the 200-backstroke. Tulp also contributed a third place finish in the 100-yard backstroke.
“I’m very happy with the way the ladies swam this weekend,” said Head Coach Mike Rawleigh. “They’ve improved on their depth from last year and did a good job keeping up strong swims even when the meet got close.”
Rawleigh is in his 32nd season as head coach for Gettysburg College.
The lady Bullets outscored the Shorewomen 28-10 after the fifth and sixth events, but Washington did not tread too far behind for long, coming in with top finishes for the final four events of the day.
The meet came down to the final 400-yard relays. While Washington earned first place, Gettysburg’s second and third place finishes brought the team to the top of the scoreboard.
The Gettysburg women were runners-up last season in the Centennial Conference championships behind Ursinus College. The lady Bullets were once again predicted to finish as runners-up in a preseason poll, yet Gettysburg looks to improve on that finish and prediction through its consistency and depth.
“We’re really hoping to have a strong fall season to lead into a strong winter season,” said Moyer. “We have some really important dual meets and then our Gettysburg Invitational that will hopefully help our team develop even more.”
Gettysburg will hope to stay undefeated and build on their already successful fall season when the lady Bullets will be back in action this weekend in a tri-meet against Messiah College and Susquehanna University at the Bullets Pool.
