Diver Schultz helps Quakers drown Blue Jays

Although Johns Hopkins may be a Division III school, in men's swimming it is anything but inferior. The Blue Jays are second among all Division III schools in team championships, having won three national titles (1977-79). More recently, JHU finished third in the nation at last year's NCAA Championships, marking the second year in a row it has finished in the nation's top five. The Jays have been conference champions for the last 24 years, winning 17 straight titles in the Middle Atlantic Conference before claiming seven consecutive University Athletic Conference championships. Presently, JHU is ranked second in the nation. So when the Blue Jays traveled to Penn to take on the Quakers at Sheerr Pool Friday, they ignored the Roman numerals and concentrated on the task at hand. But Penn (4-5) proved to be too strong for Hopkins. The Quakers won 136-88. "They're the No. 2 team in Division III," freshman Eric Rowan said. "Even still, they can't compete with a Division I school." The key to Penn's victory was junior diver Josh Schultz, who scored 18 points for the team. With impressive displays off both the 1- and 3-meter springboards, Schultz finished in first place in both events for the second time this season. "Josh came through big," sophomore Jon Levine said. "Any time you can have that type of diving performance, that's a big boost." Freshman Rob Hassett ended his personal slump with a first-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke. Hassett's victory was especially important because fellow breaststroker Andrew Valins was ill and not swimming at full strength. Freshman Colin Robinson contributed another first place with his victory in the 400 individual medley. Going into the meet, Johns Hopkins knew it would have to score well in the freestyle events to have any chance at the upset. The Jays have one of the best collections of freestylers in Division III. JHU's top swimmer is sophomore Andrew Whitney, last year's UAA Swimmer of the Year and the school record holder in the 500 freestyle. The Jays' top sprinter is converted-backstroker Brian Ronson. The junior is a school-record holder in the 200 backstroke and has recently become a valuable member of Hopkins' sprint relays. Seniors Scott Harmon and Chris Willoughby add to the team's depth. With star Jeff Brown slowed by a bad cough and fever, Penn's other freestylers knew they would have to step up. Sophomore Ken Fletcher and senior Bryan Thornton picked up the slack, allowing Brown to decrease his normal workload. Fletcher and Thornton shut down Hopkins' attack, combining to win three races. Fletcher topped the field in both the 100 and 200 freestyle races, and Thornton added a first place in the 50 freestyle to give the Quakers a sizeable lead. "It just showed that this team is more than just Jeff Brown," Rowan said.