Division III Preview: Tufts Takes On Williams in Quad Meet

Photo Courtesy: David DeCortin

This weekend will be a relatively quiet one in Division III. As many schools head into reading period and final exams, there are fewer meets (and practices). There’s still at least one more mid-season invite on the schedule, and a few more dual meets to go.

Invites Continue: Ursinus at the Golden Ram Classic

Last year the Ursinus College Bears sent six athletes to NCAAs. Three of those athletes have graduated, but the Bears return seniors Peyton Lyons and Clara Baker and sophomore Sophie May as the team sits in the 18th spot in the latest CSCAA poll.

May made the meet as a member of the 800 freestyle relay, which included Lyons, but graduated its other two legs. This weekend the team should get a first crack at that event.

Baker, an All-American butterflier, has already been 58.23 and 2:11.13 in the 100 and 200 fly in dual meets this fall.

Three time NCAA qualifier Lyons currently has season bests of 59.57 and 2:10.72 in the 100 and 200 backstroke.

They’ll race at the Golden Ram Classic at West Chester University this weekend.

Tufts, Williams, and WPI Visit Wesleyan

Tufts (#17 women, #11 men) was all around fairly impressive at the MIT Winter Invite this weekend. With the help of a solid freshman class, their women look to be making leaps forward to the top of the NESCAC. Last February the Jumbo men upset 15 time defending champions Williams.

This weekend the Ephs (#5 women, #18 men) and the Jumbos will meet, at Wesleyan, against the Cardinals and WPI. Based on current NESCAC rankings, the Jumbos are leading the conference in most individual events all ten relays. A few events this weekend should feature some good races.

On the women’s side Tufts freshman Mary Hufziger has the fastest time in the conference (1:53.59) in the 200 free. Williams sophomore Laura Westphal (1:53.94) and Hufziger’s teammate Sook-hee Evans (1:54.92) are just behind.

Last winter Tufts had an exceptionally deep breaststroke group. They’ve graduated a few of those athletes, but sophomore Lily Kurtz comes into December with the NESCAC’s top time, a 1:04.54, in the 100. Williams’ breaststroke phenom Caroline White has gone 1:05.23 this fall and her teammate Molly Craig has gone a 1:07.91. Wesleyan should be competitive in this race as well, as Willa Gibbs is the NESCAC’s number five as of now, with a 1:08.16.

Tufts and Williams each have four of the top ten 200 IM times in the NESCAC. No matter who they choose, the meet could end with a tight race.

Jamie Lovette was a standout for the Ephs in his freshman year. He returns to his sophomore campaign with the NESCAC’s number two 200 free time. Tufts takes the first, third, and fourth spots in the event, led by Joseph Kim in 1:42.02. Lovette should also be in the mix for a 500 free battle. He’s Williams’ number two in the event so far, with Jackson Karofsky posting the Ephs’ top mark. There should be a few competitive Jumbos there as well.

The butterflies should also be close races. In the 100, Tufts has four and Williams holds three of the ten fastest times. The Jumbos are four of the NESCAC’s five fastest 200 flyers, with an Eph- Sean Tan– being second among the top five.

Bates Welcomes Dartmouth

In more NESCAC action, the Bates Bobcats will race the Ivy League’s Dartmouth on Friday night. Dartmouth is coming off the Bruno Invite while Bates raced at the Maine State Meet last weekend. The Bobcat women had some freshman heavy influences, led by Caroline Sweeney and Maya Reynoso Williams. All-American sophomore Caroline Apathy continues to excel in butterfly and sprint free.

Senior breaststroker Alex Bedard is a leader for the Bobcat men as is junior distance swimmer Alexander Ignatov. Freshman backstroker Dan Waterland has also stepped up so far season.

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