Meet at Fordham yields a win, a loss for La Salle

By Mike McDonald
Collegian Editor
January 24, 2007

On Saturday afternoon, the La Salle swim teams traveled to the Bronx for a meet against the Fordham Rams.

The Explorer men went into the meet with a 2-3 record, and they were able to pick up their third win of the season with a 142-101 victory over the Rams.

Senior Sean Conners-McBride finished first in two events. His time of 9:52.65 was good enough for first in the 1,000-yd freestyle and his 2:00.36 won the 200-yd butterfly event. He also placed second in the 500-yd freestyle with a time of 4:44.33.

The 200-yd butterfly event, which Connors-McBride won, had the three top spots swept by the Explorers. Finishing in second was freshman Matt Harner, who recorded a time of 2:01.31. Senior Reed Inglee swam to a third place finish, with a time of 2:02.54.

La Salle also swept the 200-yd backstroke event also. Senior Mike Ellerson finished in first with a 1:57.51. Sophomore Stuart Barr placed second, with a time of 1:58.97, and senior Matt Ainsworth was third, with a time of 1:59.13.

Junior Grant Chin won the 200-yd individual medley with a time of 1:57.41.

The Explorers swept one more event: the 50-yd freestyle. Freshman Owen Black won the event, with a time of 22.49. Sophomore Chris Cefalo finished in second, with a time of 22.61, and senior Kevin Whalen grabbed third, with a 22.67.

Senior Karo Isajan swept the diving events, scoring a 357.80 in the one-meter event and a 328.43 in the three-meter event.

Things did not go as well for the Explorer women. Fordham dominated most of the action all day long and won the meet, 152-83.

Although the final score was not close, the Explorers did have two competitors who finished first in their respective events.

Freshman Shannon Duval had another great day, as she won the 500-yd freestyle event, recording a 5:07.30.

Junior Katie Gifford won the 3-meter diving competition. She received a score of 250.28.

With the loss, the Explorer women dropped to 2-6 on the year.

The Explorer swim teams have only two meets left before the Atlantic 10 Championships roll around. This Saturday, La Salle will travel to Duquesne for a 1 p.m. meet. The following week, the Explorers will face off against Lehigh here at Kirk Pool.

mcdonaldm2@lasalle.edu