Men's Swimming 2/14/2016 4:54:00 PM Chris Myers

Cardinals Men’s Swimmers Capture ASC Title, Women Strong Second

The WJU men celebrate their ASC

Full Results
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – In front of a full Virginia Tech Aquatics Center, the Wheeling Jesuit men's swimming team put together an amazing finale and captured its seventh Appalachian Swimming Conference championship in eight years. The Cardinals women showed strong for second in the team standings.

The Cardinals men with their ASC trophy

The Cardinals men gave head coach Luis Ambrosio his first title as a head coach. The WJU men won the title by 26.5 points, 527-501.5 and dethroned last year's champ West Virginia Tech. Prechampionship favorite Brenau University won the women's side by 93 points over WJU, 560-467.

"Every championship is different," Ambrosio said. "This men's team, in particular, has come from everywhere and it took all year to bring this team together. In the last three months, I saw synergy happening within our team and you have to have that at this meet to be successful. I am very proud of how our men stepped up together and we are excited to return another ASC title home to Wheeling Jesuit University."

In the championship effort, senior Kubz Skrzpczak made sure his last ASC meet finished in a big way. The Poland native touched the 200 backstroke wall first with a 1:49.14, recording an NCAA Division 2 B standard cut. His freshman teammate Gonzalo Vegas from Venezuela garnered third (1:54.13).

"Definitely, the best and most exciting conference championship I have swam over my whole college career. Winning never felt so good!" Skrzypczak said.

Wrapping up the final night, the men's A relay also finished second with Strauss (47.14), Skrzypczak r:0.55 (47.21), Zellin r:0.60 (46.06), Swierczynski r:0.40 (45.98). "it was a sweet victory after a bitter loss last year. And it was most definitely the most stressful three days of my life but I wouldn't have wanted to win conference in this fashion with any other team especially not after all the ups and downs we had this season which made everything worthwhile." team Captan Strauss said.

The Cardinals with their ASC trophies

Favorite for the win Kuba Skrzypczak, finished first with freshman teammate Gonzalo Vegas, from Venezuela finished third with a time of 1:54.13.

The men's 400 free relay of Jandre Strauss (47.14), Skrzypczak r:0.55 (47.21), Vincent Zellin r:0.60 (46.06), and Jakub Swierczynski r:0.40 (45.98), wrapped up second with time of 3:06.39.

"It was a sweet victory after a bitter loss last year. And it was most definitely the most stressful three days of my life, but I wouldn't have wanted to win the conference in this fashion with any other team, especially not after all the ups-and-downs we have had this season, which made everything worthwhile," explained team captain Strauss.

After a very strong first two days, Swierczynski also from Poland took another first place, conference title, WJU record and NCAA B cut time for the 200 breaststroke in 2:00.47. Jakub's time broke Strauss' previous ASC conference meet record set in 2013.

Zellin swam to a runner-up finish in the 200 butterfly race (1:54.10), while Brett DiPuma was fifth (1:58.91).

Strauss dropped .40 seconds off his 100 free time for fifth place (46.92). Joshua Remaniak grabbed fifth place in the men's 1650 free (16:42.66), after he swam a 17:32.66 in the morning session, dropping an incredible 50 seconds from his season best time.

For the Cardinals women, Anna Davis started the final day in style. The defending 100 free champion added another event title in 52.53, after she had a fast split of 24.80 in the first half of the race.

Davis was also part of the second-place 400 free relay team. The WJU relay of of Vanessa Gipson (56.48), Jade Worrels (53.74), Taylor Sustersic (56.06), and Davis (52.19) touched in a time of 3:38.47. The women's B relay – Catie Preskorn (1:04.14), Sarah Peters (59.95), Maria Palmquist(59.61), and Taylor Ulisse (1:00.60) – posted a 4:04.30.

The Cardinals women's seniors

Rachel Yontz set her second WJU record of the meet in the 200-yard butterfly. She swam to a 2:06.78 despite starting the race a second and a half behind, but she showed an outstanding pace race with splits of 28.80, 1:01.01 (32.21), (32.92), and (32.85).

In the first event of the day, the 1650 freestyle, Vanessa Gipson finished in second place with a time of 17:41.84.

Katlyn Curnes added a bronze medal for the Cardinals women. Curnes recorded the third-place time of 2:28.58 in her 200 breaststroke.

"Starting out in fifth at the 100, Curnes improved her stroke tempo and kept great form. She had an amazing comeback race and deserved that medal," noted Ambrosio.

Worrels was less than a second back in the 200 breast in fifth (2:29.26).

In the 200 backstroke, Palmquist recorded a win in the consolation final (2:12.07) and finished in ninth place overall. Ulisse also was 15^th in the event (2:21.72).

"We talked about being focused and confident and having the courage to step up and most importantly to have fun. We had nothing to lose. Our swimmers took care of business and I am extremely proud of the men's and women's teams," finished Ambrosio.

Final Team Scores:

Men
1-    Wheeling Jesuit University 527
2-    West Virginia University – Tech 501.5
3-    Mars Hill University – 421

Women
1-    Brenau University – 560
2-    Wheeling Jesuit University – 467
3-    Asbury University – 306

-GoCards-

Print Friendly Version