The William & Mary men's swimming team won 10 of 12 events Sunday on the final day of the CAA Pod Meet, en route to a sweep of team meets against UNCW and Delaware to break one of the program's oldest records. The Tribe won 199-147 over the Seahawks and 253-87 over the Blue Hens, to improve to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in conference action. With those two wins, W&M has now won 16-straight dual meets against Colonial Athletic Association foes, breaking the all-time team record of 15-straight conference wins that had stood since 1975.
- First up was the 500 free, and senior
Ben Skopic (Marriottsville, Md.) swimming an unusual event, for him, earned two wins with a 4:39.21 performance. He won by the slimmest of margins, 0.01 seconds, with a furious sprint to the finish.
- In the 200 back, senior
Philip Barto (Midlothian, Va.) earned the win over Delaware in 1:54.55, his first victory of the season.
- Senior
Colin Wright (Williamsburg, Va.) kept the wins coming with two more in the 100 free, timing 44.70 to win by a body length.
- His classmate
Ian Bidwell (Pelham, N.Y.) added another win over Delaware in the 200 breast, stopping the clock in 2:08.68.
- Senior
Chris Balbo (Short Hills, N.J.) won the 200 fly against both teams in 1:51.43, finishing a remarkable career at this meet. In four years, Balbo has gone 17-3 in his individual events, including a perfect 12-0 in the last two years.
- Wrapping up the weekend was the 400 free relay, where
Jack Doherty (Middletown, Conn.),
Ian Thompson (Alexandria, Va.),
Christopher Pfuhl (Charlotte, N.C.), and Wright swam 3:02.84 to add a final two wins to the team total.
William & Mary is back in action next weekend, heading up to Lexington, Va., to face VMI on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.
