Three new records set at first annual Buff and Blue Meet
WASHINGTON, DC - Shaking off a hectic week of studying and
school work before the semester's final exams end on December 14,
the Gallaudet Men and Women's Swim Team swam fast at the Buff and
Blue Meet Friday night at the Field House Pool, demonstrating that
a semester's worth of hard work has paid off.
Leading the way for the Aqua-Bison were freshmen phenoms Jimmy
McGowan and Carlisle Robinson, who each broke an individual team
record and just missed more. In addition, the men's 400
Medley Relay team of McGowan, Michael Hubbs, Ryan Kobylarz and
freshman Daniel DiDonna broke the oldest record on the Gally
books: a 1973 relic that had survived thirty-four years atop
the record board. McGowan started the relay off in
excellent fashion, turning in a school record 57.46 100 Back
leg. The final relay time was 4:04.21, easily beating the old
standard of 4:09.
On the women's side, for the first time in team history, two
active team record holders (and Deaflympians) squared off directly
against each other in an attempt to break a third record: the
women's 50 Breaststroke. The crowd was hushed as freshman
Carlisle Robinson, the 200 Breast record-holder, stood two lanes
away from fifth year senior Silvia Herdicka, the 100 Breast
record-holder. At stake was Nancy Cantu's time of 36.12,
which was set in 1990, the year Robinson was born. It was a
good and close race, with Robinson touching in 35.78, just edging
out Herdicka, who gave the younger rival a congratulatory hug.
Other impressive swims included: Robinson's 100 IM time of
1:07.11, which missed Stephanie Danner's 1:06.49 mark; Robinson's
50 Fly time of 28.33, which just missed Micki Poole's record of
27.99; McGowan's 100 Fly time of 1.00.08, which missed Ray Clark's
58.95 standard; Ryan Kobylarz's 100 Fly relay split of 1:01.64;
Daniel DiDonna's 50 Breast time of 33.03; Misella Tomita's 50 Back
time of 36.41; and Kandace Morris' 100 IM time of
1:14.89. Finally, the women's 200 Free Relay team of
Robinson, Morris, Katie Day and Marissa Larson served notice that
they will have an excellent chance of breaking the two decade-old
team record in that event at Championships in February.
"This was an excellent way to end the calendar year," remarked
head coach Bill Snape. "But our swimmers know that the
ultimate test of our season will be determined in early 2008 as we
wrap up our dual meet season and head into Championships at St.
Mary's February 14-17."
The Aqua-Bison women next face the College of Notre Dame, in
Baltimore, on January 12th. One week later, both the
women and men will swim CAC rival Hood College at home with an
opportunity for conference wins. The dual meet season ends
one day later, Sunday January 20th, with a meet against Hollins and
Salem in the Field House Pool.
