Bullets Swimmer preparing for a backstroke race. (Photo David Sinclair/Gettyburg College Athletics)
By John Towey, Staff Writer
This Saturday, the Gettysburg Bullets swim team hosted Johns Hopkins University, Washington College, Bryn Mawr College and McDaniel College in the Centennial Quad to open up their season. For the men’s team, they took down Washington College 201-59 and McDaniel 216-37. They fell short to Johns Hopkins 182-78.
Connor Mangan ’28 won the 200m backstroke event for the Bullets with a time of 1:53.34. He also finished second in the 200m butterfly with a time of 1:55.88, placing him eighth in program history.
Other notable Bullet performances included Evan Graham ’28, who finished second in the 100m backstroke with a time of 50.73. Ben Butterfield ’29 started off his college career strong, placing second in the 100m butterfly with a time of 51.99 seconds. The 200m medley relay of Graham ’28, Kiener ’28, Schundler ’27, and McAlister ’26 finished second with a time of 1:33.96.
The women’s team picked up where they left off last season, beating Washington College 212-42, McDaniel 215-40, and Bryn Mawr 215-41. They fought hard against Johns Hopkins, ultimately falling 150.5 to 105.5.
Valerie Lawton ’26 had a decisive first place finish in the 50m free with a time of 24.47. Lawton, along with Hawkins ’26, Knoller ’26, and McKenzie ’27 started off the meet with a win in the 200m medley relay, finishing at 1:45:92, moving them to seventh in all time program history in the event.
Emily Brown ’29 made her presence known early on Saturday with a win in the 1000m free boasting a time of 11:01:54.
The Bullets will compete again at home against Franklin & Marshall this Friday at 5:30 PM.
