January 31, 1998 - More records fell on Saturday for the Loyola College men's swimming and diving team. However it was in a losing cause as the Blue Hens of Delaware defeated the men by a score of 142-98. Thus, the Hounds' final duel meet records evens out at 6-6. But the main attraction was the celebration of the final meet for the ten graduating seniors on the team. Chris Abrams, Will Bryant, Mark Gallagher, John Gunther, Tim Kelly, Jon Lang, Ashley Loper, David Raver, Sean Smith and Kevin Stack were honored as they swam in their final meets at Loyola College.
As was the case last week against St. Peter's, Coach Brian Loeffler's lineup put an emphasis on relays, and for the second week in a row, those relays delivered in record-breaking fashion. The team of Gallagher, Kelly, sophomore Ken Sposato, and Loper led the meet off by winning the 400-meter medley relay. Their time of 4:02.85 annihilated the prior team mark by nearly eight seconds. The same four returned in the final race of the meet, the 400-meter freestyle relay. Swimming in the order of Gallagher, Loper, Sposato and Kelly, the team held off all challenges and broke the school record for the event with a time of 3:40.68. Jon Lang capped off his duel meet career with one of his best meets at Loyola. Although he did not win any races, he managed to set two school records that have eluded him over the course of his career. His time of 2:15.61 broke the school record in the 200-meter individual medley. The Mariotsville, Maryland native also set the school mark in the 200-meter breastroke with a time of 2:34.15. He finished second in each race.
The only other individual highlights for the men was Sposato's win in the 50-meter freestyle (24.33), Gallagher's triumph in the 100-meter free (54.66) and sophomore John Moore's victory in the 400-meter free (4:13.37).
Blue Hen 1-2 finishes in the 200-meter butterfly, and the 800- and 200-meter freestyle events as well as a sweep in the 200-meter backstroke did in the Greyhounds.
The Lady Hounds knew that it would be a difficult task to overhaul the University of Delaware on Saturday. Mainly focused on continuing their strong efforts in preparation for MAAC Championships, the Loyola women's swimming and diving team settled for a 149-92 defeat to the Lady Blue Hens. Graduating seniors Stacey Brooks and Kathleen Brogan were honored as they swam in their final home duel meet. Freshman standout Brie Hawkins once again led the charge for the Greyhounds. She out-distanced her foes in the 800-meter freestyle, winning the event with a time of 9:42.17. She came right back to take the next event, the 200-meter freestyle, in a quick 2:12.63. This broke the record that she set earlier in the season. Sophomores Michelle Russo and Jenny Redfield finished second and fourth in the event, Loyola's strongest output of the afternoon. Hawkins later took the 400-meter free (4:39.86) to wrap up her triple victory day. Junior Kathleen Griffin won the three-meter diving competition and placed second in the one meter diving event. Sophomore Alison Bailey placed second in the 50-meter free and classmate Christine Gahagan finished second in the 100-meter free.
Blue Hen sweeps in the stroke events, the 200-meter individual medley, the 200-meter backstroke, the 200-meter breastroke and the 200-meter butterfly, did in the Lady Hounds.
Loyola's record currently stands at to 6-7. The Lady Hounds have one more meet on their schedule, a Saturday afternoon clash with St. Francis in Pennsylvania. The women defeated the Red Flash last season.
Click here for men's times and results.
Click here for women's times and results.
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