Bulldogs Strong In Final Meet Of 2006

Dec. 2, 2006

Complete Results

Kenosha, Wis. - Raj Duggal scored a win in the men's 500 freestyle A Final and the Bulldogs combined for 18 A Finals showings in the entire meet en route to a strong showing at the TYR Classic at Kenosha, Wis. last weekend. The men's team and the women's team each tallied 6th-place finishes in their final tournament of the fall season, with the men scoring 321 points and the women scoring 423.

The two teams combined for 60 season-best marks in the tournament, including 16 lifetime-best marks.

"We had a very good mid-season invitational and I am proud of all the swimmers that participated," head coach Maurice Stewart said. "Competing this weekend certainly helped our swimmers gain valuable prelim/final experience, helped us build team confidence and developed mental toughness, as we had multiple swimmers compete in several back-to-back events throughout the meet."

Duggal had perhaps the finest showing for the men's team, scoring a win in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:37.24, finishing less than a second off of his school-record mark of 4:36.32. He also added season-best times in the 200 free (1:43.64) and in the 1,650 free (16:20.74) and 200 butterfly (1:58.45).

Jason Brozek added season-best marks in the 100 breast (1:00.61) and 200 breast (2:13.62) while notching personal season-best showings in the 50 free (22.72) and 100 free (48.68).

The men's team had strong outings from several other swimmers who registered personal-best season times, including Korey McCulley, who top times the 100 free (48.83), 100 fly (56.68) and 200 IM (2:09.19). Chris Gordon also contributed season-best times in the 200 free (1:48.77) and in the 100 backstroke (58.10), while Jimmy Howard added a top time in the 100 fly (55.24) and scored personal season bests in the 50 free (22.41) and 100 free (49.03).

Josh Bennett (50 free - 24.26, 200 fly - 2:12.96), Jeff Harrigan (200 IM - 2:23.75) and Ben Shafer (500 free - 5:01.39, 1,650 free - 18:04.04, 200 breast - 2:25.27) put up strong showings as well. Travis Cheney added solid performances in the 500 free (5:26.62), 100 fly (58.76) and 200 fly (2:15.42) after recent ankle surgery.

Mary Beth Arnold continued her strong season on the women's team, notching second-place finishes and season-best marks with A times in the 100 breast (1:07.29) and 200 breast (2:25.40) and adding a top-season showing in the 200 IM (2:14.07).

Elizabeth Shafer added team season-best marks in the 200 free (2:04.16) and the 500 free (5:28.38) and scored personal season-best times in the 100 free (58.07) and 100 back (1:10.00). Sarah Lynne Gates also posted two top marks for the team this season, notching a 2:17.38 in the 200 back and a lifetime-best 4:55.37 in the 400 IM.

Ali Overgaard chipped in a season-best showing in the 200 butterfly (2:19.81) and Julie Elmore scored a top mark in the 1,650 (19:56.16). Stephanie Altepeter (50 free - 27.22, 200 IM - 2:21.74, 400 IM - 4:58.61) and Melissa Nemec (100 back - 1:06.64, 200 back - 2:25.50, 100 fly - 1:06.27) scored strong season-best times in the meet.

Meanwhile, Katie Krueger (50 free - 26.33, 100 free - 58.42), Stephanie Moles (200 free - 2:07.98, 500 free - 5:43.31), Momo Wilson (100 free - 1:01.51, 100 breast - 1:15.24, 200 breast - 2:43.05, 200 IM - 2:34.56) and Kendall Wormley (200 back - 2:28.69, 100 fly - 1:10.52, 200 IM - 2:31.32) added personal season-best marks in the meet.

"We now need to direct our efforts on getting stronger and increase our training intensity as we start the second half of the season," Stewart added. "This will definitely set the team up for a great Horizon League Championships in February."