JACKSONVILLE, IL – The Principia College men's swimming team headed to Illinois College for their first swim meet of the season. They took on host Illinois College, Knox College and Millikin University in a quad meet. The men came out on top versus Knox College (134-31) but lost to host Illinois College (76-125) and Millikin (62-149). They were helped by swimming 13 "best" times during the meet. It was a solid start to the season.
The men opened the meet with the 200 Medley relay. Senior
Andrew Boyd, junior captain
Liam Anderson, senior
Walker Hannigan and freshman
Thomas Rauschenberger swam a 1:49.85 to take 2
nd place overall. Three of the four swims were "best" times. Anderson swam a season best 31.48 breaststroke split, while Hannigan split a 25.42 butterfly for a lifetime best time. Rauschenberger anchored the relay in a 24.86 free split to earn a season best time. After a break for the mile, Hannigan took 3
rd place overall with a lifetime best time of 2:00.75 in the 200 freestyle. Boyd followed that up with a 2
nd place overall in the 100 backstroke with a 1:03.44. Anderson added another "best" to the total with a season best 100 breaststroke time of 1:10.35, good for 3
rd place overall. Freshman
Christian Moore added a season best of his own with his 1:24.87 100 breast time. He then followed that up 2 events later with a season best 32.57 in the 50 free.
After a short break, Hannigan earned 3
rd place in the 100 free with a 54.39. Rauschenberger earned a season best with a 57.53 in the same event and Moore added his 3
rd season best time of the meet with his 1:13.46. Boyd then swam to a 3
rd place finish in the 200 back with a 2:21.92. Anderson also took a 3
rd place finish but in the 200 breast with a 2:38.48. In the 500 free, freshman
Emmett Wainwright brought another "best" to the team with his season best 6:17.91.
Hannigan earned his 2
nd "best" of the meet with a 58.15 100 butterfly that gave him the win in the event and a lifetime best in-season time. The final event – the 200 free relay – saw the team of Rauschenberger, Moore, Wainwright and freshman
Christian Blaney swim to 3
rd place overall with a 1:49.13. Blaney's anchor split of 26.86 was a season best for him and the team's final "best" of the meet.
The men competed well as seen by their win against Knox and the 13 "bests" that they earned.
The men will be back in action on Saturday, Nov 10 when they host their first home meet of the season. They will be taking on the men from Lindenwood University – Bellville and Williams Baptist College. The meet will start at 1 pm at the Principia College natatorium.
