Westminster College Opens Season Sweeping Ashland University
NEW WILMINGTON, Penn, November 8. THE Westminster College men's and women's swimming team each opened the 2003 dual meet season on a winning note today in Ashland, Ohio, as the Titans and Lady Titans each posted wins over NCAA Division II Ashland University.
The men's team took the win in the final event, giving the Titans a 103-100 win over the Eagles, while the Lady Titans cruised to a 116-83 decision.
On the men's side, the Titan 200 freestyle relay team captured the final event over their Ashland counterparts by just 57/100ths of a second (1:31.16 to 1:31.73), giving Westminster the team victory. A pair of members of that 200 freestyle teams were also individual winners, as junior Kevin Gesacion (Boardman, OH/Boardman H.S.) captured the 50 freestyle in 22.94, while freshman Ryan Trunk (Brookline, MA/Cheshire Academy H.S.) won the 100 freestyle in 50.01. Sophomore Josh Hensler (Pittsburgh/South Park H.S.) captured the 100 breaststroke (1:03.36) while also swimming a leg on the Titans' winning 200 medley relay team (1:44.58), while frosh Jason Hall (Lower Burrell/Burrell H.S.) swam on both winning relay teams.
For the Lady Titans, six different swimmers captured individual events. Freshman Sara Bonchosky (Uniontown/Laurel Highlands H.S.) won both the 100 freestyle (55.95) and 200 freestyle (2:03.82). All four members of Westminster's winning 200 medley relay team – senior Brittany Jardine (Allison Park/North Allegheny H.S.) and freshmen Megan McLaughlin (Wooster, OH/Wooster H.S.), Emily Staniszewski (Pittsburgh/South Park H.S.), and Amy Wirtz (Canton, OH/Canton McKinley H.S.) – also posted individual wins. Jardine captured the 50 freestyle (25.79), while McLaughlin won the 200 IM (2:19.98), Staniszewski placed first in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.81), and Wirtz was victorious in the 100 butterfly (1:02.01).
Both swim teams return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 19, as Westminster opens its home and Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) dual meet schedules by facing Grove City College at the Natatorium at 6 p.m.