Clarion Men Defeat Duquesne 167-123
Women Lose 148-145
(CLARION, PA.): Clarion’s Men’s Swimming team downed Duquesne 167-123 on Saturday afternoon at W.S. Tippin Natatorium, while the women’s team dropped a close 148-145 decision.
The Golden Eagle men raised their record to 2-2 on the season, while the women posted their first loss and are now 3-1.
Sophomore freestyler Ryan Thiel (Ligonier) starred for the men winning a total of four events. Individually he captured the 50 free (21.98), 100 free (47.88) and 200 freestyle (1:45.20) races, along with anchoring the winning 400 medley relay team with a 3:31.35.
Also posting winning efforts were Rich Eckert (So. Versailles) in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.04), Mike Kerr (Sr. Lansdale) in the 100 back (53.52), Dustin Fedunok (So. Gibsonia) in the 500 free (4:54.84), Andrew Soisson (So. Mechanicsburg) in the 400 IM (4:27.60) and Jon Kofmehl (Fr. Johnstown) in the 200 backstroke (2:03.79). Kerr, Eckert, Thiel and A.J. Claypool (So. Kittanning) were on the winning 400 medley relay.
The women were led by Lori Leitzinger (Sr. State College) who won both the 100 backstroke (58.80) and the 200 backstroke (2:07.57). she was also part of the winning 40 free and 400 medley relays to gain 4 first place finishes on the day.
Rebecca Burgess (So. Gibsonia) won the 200 breaststroke (2:32.73) and Kaitlyn Johnson (Fr. Uniontown) won the 100 butterfly (59.55).
The 400 medley relay winners were Leitzinger, Johnson, Kelly Connolly (Fr. Cranberry Twp.) and Gina Mattucci (Fr. Jeannette/Penn Trafford). The 400 free relay winners were Leitzinger, Johnson, Mattucci and Connolly.
The swimming and diving team will be off until November 30th – December 2nd when they swim at the Zippy Invitational at Akron, Ohio.