Penn swimming too much to handle for UConn

Every corner of Sheerr Pool was filled with the echoing cheers of Penn swimmers urging on their teammates during the last event of the day, the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay.

When the last swimmer’s hand had touched the wall, both the men’s and women’s teams had asserted their dominance over UConn on Saturday, taking both meets from the Huskies. The victory came on the heels of a tough men’s loss Friday at Columbia.

There were a number of impressive swims from many Quakers on Saturday, some from the promising future freshman and others from the veteran leaders and older teammates.

Junior Rhoads Worster had one of the best races of the day, winning the 100 backstroke by over two seconds and coming within one-hundredth of a second of tying the Penn record in the event.

“[This win] was much needed to get us started off on the right foot here at home and beat a good team in UConn,” Worster said.

Between the Friday and Saturday meets for the men’s team, the races do indicate a bright season for the Quakers. On Saturday in the 200 free, sophomores Sam Ruddy and Konner Scott and freshman Bradley Wachenfeld made a clean sweep of the event, and freshman Chris Swanson earned his first collegiate win in the 1000 free Friday.

“We swam great. To go back-to-back days like this will help prepare you for championships,” coach Mike Schnur said. “And to go to New York and swim as fast as we did was a real good sign.”

The women’s team debuted its season Saturday with a 174-125 win. Like the men’s side, there is much youth and talent on the women’s team.

In the 200 medley relay, a team of all freshman, Lauren Church, Catherine Yee, Rachel Astles, and Emily Baturka took first place for the Red and Blue with a time of 1:47.02, followed by the next Quakers team which claimed second place. Freshman Sydney Stinner also took first place in the 200 and 500 freestyle.

As was the case in the men’s meet, the women’s veterans stepped up as well. Junior Shelby Fortin took first in both the 1000 and 100 freestyle.

“I think the first meet of the season is most important for the freshman,” Fortin said. “It’s time for them to really see what the team is about and how much fun we have at meets, and just remember to stay relaxed.”

While the Quakers have been putting in the yardage in training, practice is nothing like actual competition.

“All we want the guys to do is race,” coach Schnur said. “We want them to compete. We want to see who the racers are, see who the competitors are. Everybody has worked really hard. Now we see who steps up.”

SEE ALSO:

McHugh wraps up week in Olympic Trials semis

Men’s swimming finishes sixth at Ivy championships

Penn women’s swimming enters Ivies on a hot streak

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