Saturday, January 25, 1997 -- The Loyola College Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Teams hosted the College of William and Mary and were soundly defeated by what coach Brian Loeffler called "one of the most powerful teams we have ever faced". The men were defeated 163-134 and the women lost 165-120.
There were two overwhelming themes to the meet. One was pool records: There were eleven set in the meet -- six by the William and Mary Men, three by the William and Mary Women, and two by Loyola Junior Captain Mark Gallagher. The other was the Loyola Seniors: Before the first diving event, the Seniors were honored as they swam their final home meet. (The women did have more more meet at home against Navy.)
Gallagher accounted for three of the five first place finishes for the Hounds. He broke his own school and pool record in the 100 meter backstroke, hitting the wall in a sizzling time of 59.64 seconds. After taking honors in an extremely tight 50 meter freestyle race, Gallagher stepped it up once again in the 100 meter butterfly, coming in with a time of 1:00.59 -- another new school and pool record. Juniors Will Bryant and John Gunther took first and second place respectively in the one and three meter diving competitions. In his final meet at Loyola, Senior Captain Jamie Bifulco swam in both relay events and placed fifth in the 200 meter butterfly.
The Loyola Women were not very fortunate in their meet as they were swept in individual events several times. Their only two wins came courtesy of Sophomore Kathleen Griffin in the diving events. Other strong performances came from Freshman Jen Wood who took second place in the 100 meter backstroke and Sophomore Star Moran who placed second in the 200 meter breastroke. In her final home meet, Senior Tracey Wells finished third in the 100 meter butterfly and fourth in the 200 meter butterfly.
Click here for men's times and results.
Click here for women's times and results.
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