Just a year after going to the wire to record its first-ever victory over John Carroll, there wouldn't be any need for those kinds of heroics Friday. Coming off a five-week break, the Wilmington College men's swimming team won nine of the 11 events in recording the 119-86 win over the Blue Streaks in Ohio Athletic Conference action.
"They are starting to put it together," said Wilmington head coach Trip Breen. "We just came off training trip so everybody is still fatigued, and for them to come back and swim the way they did, tired, is pretty exciting. It's always kind of an unknown when you come off a training trip and you've had this lay off. You know they are excited to race, but it's been a while since they actually raced. I know there is a little bit of anxiety for them. It more exciting for coaches because I know how much work they have done. It's good to see the fruits of that."
Senior Mikey Spraul (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) and freshman Erik Spraul (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) each won two individual events and a relay. They were joined by sophomore David Hawk (Edison, OH/Mount Gilead) and senior Corbin Hellwarth (Celina, OH/Parkway) to open the meet by claiming the 200-meter medley relay (1:50.52).
Mikey Spraul had "incredible swims" in winning the 200-meter freestyle (1:59.78) and the 100-meter backstroke (59:71). Erik Spraul earned victories in the 200-meter individual medley (2:15.45) and the 100-meter butterfly (1:02.76).
Junior Mason Harris (Westerville, OH/Central) also recorded two individual victories, winning the 800-meter freestyle (9:05.28) and 400-meter freestyle (4:26.00). Other wins came from Hellwarth in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:11.50) and Hawk in the 100-meter freestyle (55.04).
In the 100-meter breaststroke sophomore Eric Balash (Canton, OH/Glen Oak) may have turned the corner.
"Eric Balash had a nice 100 breaststroke, and I think he surprised himself," said Breen. "Those are the things that are cool to see. Everybody is starting to pull it together."
Wilmington won't have any time to bask in the glow of victory as the Fightin' Quakers return to the pool 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Union.
"We are getting ready for a three-day conference championship meet, so we have to swim two days in a row this week in preparation for that," said Breen.