Penn swimming may have traveled to Florida, but their winter break was no day at the beach.
On the team’s annual training trip last Tuesday, the Quakers took on Ivy opponent Brown at Florida International University’s outdoor pool.
Battling low temperatures and harsh wind, both the Penn men and women conquered the Bears, finishing the meet with scores of 143-137 and 171-110, respectively.
The seniors paved the way for the women, with both Lauren Brandes and Andrea Balint finishing first in multiple events.
Brandes captured both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle (24.60 and 53.83, respectively), while Balint won the 200 individual medley (2:10.67). Both seniors swam on the first-place 400 free relay team (3:37.81).
“We handled the conditions a whole lot better than they did. Our women did not want to lose,” said coach Mike Schnur on the meet.
On the men’s team, sophomore Brendan McHugh lifted the Red and Blue to a victory. McHugh won both the 100 (57.76) and 200 breaststroke (2:06.59), as well as the 200 I.M., which proved to be a crucial race for the Quakers.
“The entire meet came down to the 200 I.M.,” Schnur said. “We knew we were going to lose the 400-yard free relay, so Brendan had to win and Conor [Blackwood] or Robbie [Shilton] had to get at least fourth. That was the fastest unrested I.M. Brendan has ever had.”
Blackwood and Shilton took third and fifth in the 200 I.M., respectively.
Senior James Fee also gave a standout performance, taking top honors in the 500 free with a time of 4:44.58, and finishing second in both the 200 free (1:43.63) and 400 free relay (3:13.82).
With little time to rest, the Quakers returned home to face Harvard last Saturday at Sheerr Pool. However, they did not meet the same success that they had against the Bears. The men fell 183-117, while the women lost 195-80.
Penn’s men were able to come away with six first-place finishes. Once again, McHugh won both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, while Gomes also took first in the 50 free (21.44).
Senior Kyle Loughran also placed first in the 100 freestyle (47.12), while sophomore Jeff Cragg took top honors in the 1-meter diving event with 294.45 points.
“That was the best Harvard meet we have ever swum,” Schnur said. “We were right in that meet until the very end. We haven’t won six events against Harvard in the last fifteen years combined.”
The women, on the other hand, were only able to capture two first place finishes on Saturday. Freshman Melissa Parratto gained her first win of the season with the 400 IM, finishing with a time of 4:32.21. Seniors Brandes, Balint and Amy Reams, with junior Naomi Delphin won the 400 free relay team in 3:37.39.
Schnur admitted they were blown out by Harvard, but is optimistic for the future.
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