Loyola and Towson Results

BALTIMORE, MD. – The UMBC swimming and diving team swept local rival Loyola and split with Towson during Senior Day on Saturday at the UMBC Natatorium.

The men (5-2) defeated the Greyhounds 167-122, and the Tigers, 171-114, while the women (4-3) beat Loyola 235-65, but fell to Towson 164-136. 

Both squads started the meet brightly as they each won their respective 200-yard medley relay.  The Retrievers closed the meet in the same fashion, claiming both 400 free relays to sweep all of the relays in the meet.

Junior transfer Mohamed Hussein (Cairo, Egypt/Victory College)  continues to impress early in his UMBC career as he picked up three individual wins, in addition to helping the 200 medley team claim first.  After his relay success, Hussein swept the 100 (51.97) and 200-yard backstroke (1:51.94) events.  He then finished his day by claiming victory in the 200 IM (1:53.53).

Senior John Mendenhall (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), swimming in his final home meet, went out with a bang, winning the 100 (59.42) and 200 breast (2:08.76) events. 

Junior Pierre De Waal (Pretoria, South Africa/Tuks Sport/Cleveland State) and freshman Lauri Kaei (Harjumaa, Estonia/Tallin Secondary Science) picked up wins in the 200 fly (1:52.97) and 200 free (1:41.91), respectively, in addition to helping the victorious 400 free relay team.

On the diving board, junior Andrew Eckhoff (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) picked up his sixth win of the year, winning the 3-meter (296.25) competition.

For the women, seniors Abbey McKenney (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) and Ashley Miller (New Smyrna Beach, Fla./New Smyrna Beach) each picked up an individual win for the Retrievers.  McKenney claimed first in the 100 free (52.54), while Miller beat out her classmate for the 50 free (24.39) win.  McKenney also was a part of both relay teams and Miller helped the 400 free team to the win.

Sophomore Klara Pavelkova (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnasium Pripotocni) and junior Claire Barron (Lowestoft, England/Benjamin Britten/New Orleans) each picked up an individual win, the 100 back (59.22) for Pavelkova, and the 100 breast (1:06.19) for Barron.  Both Retrievers were also on the 200 medley relay team as well.

UMBC now has the week off from competition.  The Retrievers return to the pool on Feb. 4 when they travel to Philadelphia, Pa. to take on Penn and La Salle in a tri-dual meet.