Williamsburg – The UMBC men's swimming team earned four individual victories and captured the 400 freestyle relay in a highly competitive meet versus William & Mary, held at the Bee McLeod Recreation Center on Oct. 30.
Fifth-year senior Kai Wisner (Syracuse, N.Y.) continued his outstanding early season efforts by capturing both the 500 and 1000 freestyle events. Senior Matt Bennici (Walkersville, Md.) and junior Gabe Laracuente (Gaithersburg, Md./Good Counsel) touched the wall first in the 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle respectively.
"This team just keeps getting faster and improving each day and it is showing up in our time drops each weekend," said Head Coach Matt Donovan. "We are two weeks into a four-week stretch of very tough competition. Every step of the way this team is progressing. We are well on our way to all of our end of season goals. I could not be more proud of this team and all that we have accomplished in a short period of time".
The Tribe edged the Retrievers, 132-129.
NOTABLE
· Wisner posted winning times of 9:38.09 (1000 freestyle) and 4:39.98 (500 freestyle) and with senior Samuel Jyawook (Franklin, Tenn.) was just behind Wisner in the 500 (4:40.12).
· The Retrievers finished 1-2-3 in 200 freestyle, with Laracurente (1:42.39) edging Jyawook (1:44.14) and junior Niklas Weigelt (Clayton, Callf.) (1:44.31).
· Matt Bennici captured his first gold of the season, recording a mark of 1:52.52 in the 200 butterfly. He finished second in the 100 butterfly (51.25).
· Laracurente finished tied for second in 50 free (21.38) with senior teammate Tiago Asakawa (Sumaré, Brazil). Asakawa also placed second in 100 freestyle (46.88).
· Freshman JJ Chapman (Cary, N.C.) earned silver in the 200 backstroke (1:54.41) and bronze in the 200 IM (1:56.90).
· Sophomore Max Trias (Chester, Va.) came in second in the 200 breaststroke (2:09.95)
· The quartet of Laracuente, Jyawook, Weigelt and Asakawa posted a two-second victory (3:05.15) in the meet-ending relay.
The Retrievers return to the Aquatic Complex for home meets on the next two Saturdays. UMBC hosts Towson on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 1:00 p.m.
