Wilmington College swim coach Trip Breen bid adieu to the largest senior class in school history as the Fightin' Quakers fell to Mount Union in the final meet before the Ohio Athletic Conference championships. The men's fell to the Purple Raiders, 113-86, while the women's team lost, 106-96.
The 11 seniors that swam for the final time at the Wilmington natatorium were Galen Carrington (Lawrenceburg, IN/East Central), Connor LaVelle (Athens, OH/Athens), Dave Heidrich (Xenia, OH/Beavercreek), Cody Skinner (Stow, OH/Stow-Munroe Falls), Melissa Amerman (Stow, OH/Stow-Munroe Falls), Emily Ashbacher (Defiance, OH/Ayersville), Amanda Biedka (Minerva, OH/Minerva), Julie Creech (Dayton, OH/Centerville), Katie Mozingo (Stow, OH/Stow-Munroe Falls), Rachel Wasson (Nashport, OH/Tri-Valley) and Shelby Zornes (Milan, IN/Milan).
"This was an extraordinary group," said Breen. "They have been a great part of the team. They showed leadership academically and in the pool. This senior class has dictated what now, are our rituals."
Sophomore Mason Harris (Westerville, OH/Central) won the 800 meter freestyle by seven seconds with a time of 9:16.48. He added a victory as part of the 400 meter freestyle relay, which turned in a time of 3:59.87.
Junior Alex Fout (Westerville, OH/Westerville) was victorious in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.55, while junior Corbin Hellwarth (Celina, OH/Parkway) won the 100 breastroke in a time of 1:13.38.
On the women's side, Creech picked up a win in the 100 butterfly, covering the distance in 1:10.30. She placed second in the 200 freestyle in 2:20.70, and was part of the 200 medley relay that finished second. Creech swam the fastest butterfly leg of the medley in 31.71.
Sophomore Victoria Burcham (Urbana, OH/Urbana) in the 100 backstroke and freshman Rachel Drake (Fairfield, OH/Fairfield) in the 100 breastroke added victories for Wilmington. Sophomore Caroline Kruczynski (Grove City, OH/Central Crossing) finished second in the 50 freestyle with the time of 29.52, missing the win by 0.32 seconds.
"I thought we swam well despite being tired," said Breen. "We just came off our training trip so we were physically fatigued. Swimming is a training-rich sport and we have swam in enough meets. Now it's about the little things as we prepare for our championship meet."
Wilmington returns to the pool on February 14 for the Ohio Athletic Conference championships at the University of Akron.
