SPRINGFIELD - The Wilmington College Men's Swim Team traveled to Wittenberg University on Saturday to compete in a double-dual meet against Wittenberg and Transylvania University. In contrast to their short line-up the week before at Ohio Northern, this week the Fightin' Quakers competed in the 'long' event line-up for the first time this season, with 200's of stroke. The Fightin' Quakers came out on top against both teams (Wilmington v Wittenberg, 131-112; Wilmington v Transylvania 162-61). 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Senior Erik Spraul (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) clocked in at 1:50.65 in the 200 Yard Freestyle and earned first place for the Fightin' Quakers. Spraul also came in first in the 200 Yard Individual Medley (2:03.42) and second in the 100 Yard Freestyle (49.86).
• Sophomore Andrew Stewart (Wilmington, OH/Clinton-Massie) placed first for the team in the 50 Yard Freestyle (22.41) and the 100 Yard Freestyle (49.08). This 100 Freestyle time is approximately half a second faster than his 100 Freestyle time from last weekend. 
• Senior David Spraul (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) touched the wall in 2:10.41 in the 200 Yard Backstroke, placing first in the field. He also finished second in the 100 Yard Backstroke (58.47).
• Sophomore Andrew Haga (Gahanna, OH/Westerville South) brought home two second-place finishes for the Fightin' Quakers in the 200 Yard Butterfly (2:08.08) and the 100 Yard Butterfly (57.54). Additionally, Haga finished fifth in the 200 Yard Individual Medley (2:14.78).
• Junior Cody Nash (Kingsburg, CA/Kingsburg) brought home two third-place finishes, one in the 200 Yard Breaststroke (2:22.46) and one in the 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:05.13).
• Freshman Jared Shoemaker (Springfield, OH/Shawnee) who achieved three personal bests the week before, bested himself yet again. This week, in the 200 Freestyle, he finished sixth with a time of 2:14.39, three seconds faster than last week.
• The team of Stewart, Nash, junior Alex Tillapaugh (Wilmington, OH/Wickenburg), and E. Spraul came together to form a 200 Yard Medley Relay. This group finished second in the field with a time of 1:44.63.
• Stewart, junior David Bellus (Upper Malboro, MD/Northmont), Nash, and Tillapaugh formed the team's 'A' 200 Yard Freestyle Relay which earned second place, as well (1:33.23).

HEAD COACH TRIP BREEN QUOTES

•  "It was a close meet all the way through, really, up until the very end. A lot of people think that swimming is an individual sport, but today really proved how much of a team sport it really is. So many people stepped up. Andrew Haga won two events against Wittenberg when we needed it the most, and David Bellus stepped on the blocks for the 100 fly only a minute and a half after the 500 free and went his second best time in the 100 fly this season. It really pulls the team together when individuals step up and do things for their teammates."

WHAT'S NEXT

• The Fightin' Quakers compete at home, 1 PM Saturday in a non-OAC dual meet against Hiram College.