The William & Mary men's swimming team got off to a sparkling start at the CAA Pod Meet on Saturday, winning 20 of 22 races on the day and breaking another dual-meet record. With just six events left against both UNCW and Delaware, the Tribe leads the Seahawks 139-95 and also leads over the Blue Hens, 164-64.
- The winning started from the very first on Saturday morning, with the team of
Jack Doherty (Middletown, Conn.),
Ian Thompson (Alexandria, Va.),
Graham Hertweck (Greensboro, N.C.), and
Colin Wright (Williamsburg, Va.) combining to win the 200 free relay against both schools in 1:21.86. That was the 14th-fastest race in school history.
- In the 200 IM, grad student
Ben Skopic (Marriottsville, Md.) swam 1:52.98 for the win, and led teammates
Steven Thalblum (Ashburn, Va.) and
Jake Kealy (Wilton, Conn.) to a sweep of the top three spots.
- Wright won the 50 free again, timing 20.47, and was followed into the wall by Thompson.
- Next up was the mile, where senior
Chris Balbo (Short Hills, N.J.) won big in 16:04.00, 10 seconds ahead of the field.
- The final event of the morning session was the 400 medley relay, where
Colin Demers (Virginia Beach, Va.),
Ian Bidwell (Pelham, N.Y.), Doherty, and Wright combined to win in 3:20.30. That broke the Tribe's dual-meet record set back at the 2015 Pod Meet, and was the 13th-fastest time ever in program history.
- After the two diving events were held in the afternoon, W&M was back in the pool in the evening and picked up right where it left off with a win in the 200 medley relay. This time, it was Demers, Bidwell, Doherty, and Thompson teaming up for the victory in 1:30.05, the 10th-fastest race ever at W&M.
- Balbo earned his second win of the day in the 400 IM, and led another sweep of the top three spots as he was followed by Skopic and by
Philip Barto (Midlothian, Va.).
- Doherty, Thompson, and Thalblum added another sweep to the day in the 100 fly, with Doherty taking top honors in 49.01 seconds, just 0.01 off his own dual-meet record set last week.
- Junior
Christopher Pfuhl (Charlotte, N.C.) swam 1:41.81 in the 200 free to pick up a win over Delaware, and finished second overall.
- The senior Bidwell earned a win over the Blue Hens himself in the 100 breast, stopping the clock in 57.22 seconds.
- The final event of the night was the 100 back, with the senior Demers keeping his undefeated streak going with a win in 49.15 seconds.
The Pod Meet will resume Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., with William & Mary competing in the 500 free, the 200 back, the 100 free, the 200 breast, the 200 fly, and the 400 free relay.
