Gophers Reach Seven Wins by Taking Down Rangers

KINGS POINT, N.Y. — Although head coach Thomas Till's squad came away from today's meet against two Landmark Conference opponents with only one victory, it was enough to make 2014-15 the second-winningest season in the history of Goucher's men's swimming program.

The win was over Drew, 75-20, but the Gophers bowed to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 70-35 and finished the regular season with a 7-4 record. The only time they exceeded seven wins in a season was in 1993-94 when they went 9-3.

The Mariners (7-2), who were also victorious over the Rangers (1-9), 74-31, claimed first place in the 200-yard medley relay to open the meet and the first five individual swimming events before Sam Davis (Wilmington, Del./Wilmington Friends) broke through for the Gophers and was the first to complete the 100-yard freestyle. With a time of 48.84 seconds, he finished 3.95 seconds ahead of USMMA's Stone Hewitt.

That, however, turned out to be Goucher's only first-place performance of the meet until the 200 free relay, the final event. The Gophers did produce the runner-up in five individual events: Colin Richter (Cleburne, Texas/Cleburne) in the 50 free (:22.73), Jerel McCord (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) in the 100 butterfly (:56.26), Patrick Tribbett (Kingman, Ariz./Kingman) in the 100 backstroke (1:04.95), Ben Shriner (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) in the 500 free (5:24.36) and Cody Nelson (Duanesburg, N.Y./Schalmont) in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.84).

First place in the 200 free relay went to the entry of Davis, Morgan Richter (Cleburne, Texas/Cleburne), Dalton Delp (Summerville, S.C./Ashley Ridge) and Colin Richter, which was clocked at 1:29.80. The Gophers also took second place in the 200 medley relay, with the same four swimmers registering a time of 1:41.46.

The Gophers still have nearly two weeks to prepare for the 2015 Landmark Conference Men's Swimming & Diving Championships which will take place Feb. 13-15 at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center in Boyds, Md.