Diplomats Dodge Bullets
GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Franklin & Marshall won six of the first eight races, but it was a win in the final race that halted Gettysburg's Centennial Conference (CC) dual meet winning streak at 20. The Diplomats (7-2, 7-0 CC) 110-95 victory was F&M's first over the Bullets (8-2, 6-1 CC) in dual competition since 2007, and marks Gettysburg's first Centennial loss in their new natatorium. The win also left the Diplomats unscathed in CC competition this season.
The meet's outcome was decided by the final race, where Gettysburg's 400-yard freestyle relay team posted the top time, but was disqualified as a swimmer hit the water too soon on an exchange. That cleared the way for the Diplomats' team of Courtney Gregor, Jennie Payne, Jackie Behr and Katherine DeCrosta to collect the first place points in the last race with a 3:45.82.
The late victory was powered by a quick start. The 400-yard medley relay team of Krista Hollingsworth, Lili Shainis, Olivia Hill and Ana Franzluebbers swam to first place points in the first race with a 4:10.81, giving the F&M quartet a 1.33 second edge on their hosts.
Hill quickly extended the lead by edging Katie Timmerman in the 1,000-yard freestyle. Hill posted a 10:55.71 to Timmerman's 10:57.86. Franzluebbers than swam a 1:59.72 in the 200-yard freestyle for a 2.5 second win to extend the Diplomats' early run that finally ended when Gettysburg's Maggie Mulderrig narrowly edged Hollinsgworth in the 50-yard freestyle. Mulderrig posted a 25.41 to Hollingsworth's 25.68, but Behr and Gregor provided respective third and fourth place finishes in the race.
DeCrosta, Laura Bassford, and Franzluebbers got F&M back on track with consecutive wins in the 200-yard individual medley, the 200-yard butterfly, and the 100-yard freetyle. DeCrosta swiped a .04 second win over Gettysburg's Caroline Coolidge. DeCrosta swam a 2:15.43. Franzluebbers posted a 1.27-second win over Mulderrig in the 100 free with a winning time of 55.10. Bassford then led a crucial sweep of the top three spots in the butterfly. Bassford touched in 2:17.77, followed by Rebecca Rice and Emily Zacherl.
Patrice Boucher countered Bassford and company's trifecta by leading a Gettysburg sweep in the 200-yard backstroke. The senior logged a 2:14.88 for first place points. A pair of Gettysburg first-years, Cassie Close and Siobhan Collins took second and third.
Boucher's victory sparked a three-race run for Gettysburg. Caroline Coolidge followed Boucher's lead by taking first place points with a .07 second win over F&M's Garland Bartlett in the 500-yard free. Coolidge posted a 5:20.85. Brooke Lacey and Timmerman took first and second in the 200-yard breaststroke to set up the decisive relay.
The Diplomats' win sets up an interesting subplot for when the teams next return to action in two weeks for the CC Championships.