LANCASTER, Pa. - It took four days, but Swarthmore College Men's swimming claimed the 2022 Centennial Conference Championship at Franklin & Marshall College on Sunday.
The Garnet won its third Centennial Conference title in program history, with the last title coming during the 2018-19 season. Swarthmore were led by strong gold medal performances from
Andrew Karpenko and
Jeremy Rockaway. Entering the meet, the Garnet were picked to finish in second place behind the host Diplomats by 121 points.
MEET HIGHLIGHTS
- In addition to earning individual and relay medals, Karpenko led the way for the Garnet as he took home some additional hardwood.The first-year was named the 2022 Most Outstanding Rookie of the Year and the Most Outstanding Performer of the Year. Karpenko is the fourth straight Garnet swimmer to earn Rookie of the Years. He follows in the footsteps of Alec Menzer (2018),
Jeremy Rockaway (2019) and
Ben Freeman (2020). Karpenko is only the third swimmer to earn both awards in the same season.
- Karpenko won the 200-breast stroke as he broke another record. The sophomore swam a 2:00.61, which broke a Centennial Conference, Swarthmore and Championship record.
Horace Shew added silver medal finish with a NCAA B cut time of 2:01.98.
- Rockaway finished the 200-fly in 1:49.25, which was an NCAA B Cut. The time broke Rockaway's own Swarthmore and Centennial Conference of 1:50.185 and a Championship record of 1:51.17 set at the 2019 championships.
- In the 1650-free, Freeman earned a bronze medal. The sophomore finished the event with an NCAA B cut time of 16:08.37.
- The 400-free relay locked up the championship with a silver medal finish. The team of Karpenko, Rockaway,
Ben Wesley and
Ethan Marotte touched the wall in 3:03.24.
- This is the first time in school history, that both the men's and women's swimming programs have won the Centennial Conference Championships in the same season. It is also the first time in school history that both the men's and women's teams have won the conference championship in the same year in their respective sport.
- Prior to the finals session, the Centennial Conference honored the senior from all of the conference institutions. Included in that ceremony were Rockaway, Shew,
Ethan Bergmann,
Riley McLaughlin and
Dylan Torrance.
UP NEXT
With several NCAA B Cuts, the Garnet will await their fate to see who will compete at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. The championships will take place from March 16th until March 19th. The announcements of the NCAA list will take place in a few weeks.
FINAL TEAM SCORES
1. Swarthmore College 889; 2. Franklin & Marshall College 816; 3. Gettysburg College 636; 4. Ursinus College 366; 5. Washington College 353; 6. Dickinson College 235; 7. McDaniel College 124
