Richter, Bent Selected as Top November Athletes

TOWSON, Md. — Men’s swimmer Morgan Richter (Cleburne, Texas/Cleburne), who recently broke the school record in the 1,000-yard freestyle, and equestrian rider Ashley Bent (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area), who picked up a pair of blue ribbons in the intermediate fences class, have been selected as Goucher’s Male and Female Gophers of the Month for November.

Richter played a key role in each of Goucher’s four meets in November. Against St. Mary’s (Md.) on Nov. 2, he touched in at 10:07.57 in the 1000 free. That time was almost 12 seconds faster than the previous school record of 10:19.39 from Matthew Brower during the 2011-12 season.

That event victory was one of nine individual first-place results for Richter in November, and he was also a part of a winning relay team. During the team’s dual meet against Arcadia and Gallaudet on Nov. 16, Richter served as the team’s “Iron Man,” participating in all nine individual events that afternoon.

“Morgan has significantly lowered his times compared to where he was at this point last season,” head coach Tom Till said. “And that’s a tribute to his growth as an athlete. He has made it to every one of our optional morning practices, and that hard work has been paying off. I’m confident that he will continue to grow as we head into the later portion of our season.”

Bent has been a major factor in equestrian’s tremendous start to the season. Goucher took first place in each of its IHSA shows in November, and Bent grabbed blue ribbons in the jumping phase of the intermediate division on both occasions. In the team’s most-recent show on Nov. 16, she qualified for the Region I Championships, which will be held on March 30.

“Ashley is an extraordinarily hard worker, with a great aptitude for riding, cemented in natural talent,” equestrian director Jen Bunty said. “She came to Goucher as a very good rider, and has continued to blossom during her time here. She has been a large contributor to the team’s undefeated start to the season, and it is a true pleasure to be her coach.”

The selections of Richter and Bent as November’s Gophers of the Month were made by the school’s sports information staff. Julian Livingston (Bowie, Md./Fairmont Heights) from the men’s basketball team and Katherine Currier (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaGuardia) from the women’s cross country team were also considered for this month’s honor.