GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The No. 21 Swarthmore College men's swimming team continued to swim away from the competition as they expanded its lead to over 200 points heading into the final night of the Centennial Conference Championships.  

Both veteran swimmers and underclassmen had excellent nights as the Garnet combined for 10 medals and four victories. First-year Dylan Herink captured his first collegiate gold medal, while seniors Ben Wesley, Andrew Karpenko and Ben Freeman all added more gold to their lengthy championship resumes. 

Freeman highlighted the night for the men with a record-breaking swim in the 200 freestyle. The senior narrowly beat out Danny Castle to finish below the NCAA B cut, while also knocking off a conference and pool record in the event. 



HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Swarthmore 200 freestyle relay of Cami Wilson, Cole Griscavage, Ethan Marotte and Ben Wesley placed as the runner-up to earn silver. The team touched the wall at 1:21.69 to finish below the NCAA B cut time. The swim also ranks second all-time in program history. 

- Herink earned his first collegiate gold medal with a time of 4:01.49 in the 400 IM. Ham Williams-Tracy followed shortly behind with a time of 4:01.52 after making a remarkable surge on the freestyle leg. The junior swam in the middle of the pack for the majority of the race until he passed several competitors late in the race. Herink ranks third all-time in program history, while Williams-Tracy moved to fourth overall. Finn Conaway (4:04.80) and Jacob Sherman (4:07.97) also grabbed sixth and eighth in a talented field of swimmers. 

- Wesley (48.75) and Wilson (48.76) raced to a gold and silver finish in a tightly-contested 100 butterfly. The senior beat out the sophomore by one-hundredth of a second to finish first overall. Both swimmers finished below the NCAA B cut, while Wesley moved to third all-time in program history. Dylan Ling (50.28) and Marotte (50.91) also competed in the top final as they placed fourth and sixth, respectively. 

- Freeman captured another gold medal with a victory in the 200 freestyle. The senior finished at 1:38.67 to narrowly beat out Castle, who touched at 1:38.69. Both swimmers finished below the NCAA B cut mark, while Freeman took down the championship, conference, pool and program records. Castle also moved into second all-time in program history with his swim. 

- Karpenko and Wesley earned gold and silver in the 100 breaststroke. Karpenko finished below the NCAA B cut time with a 55.16 effort, while Wesley followed at 55.77. Karpenko was unable to topple his conference record, however, Wesley continued to have an excellent night as he moved up to fifth all-time with his swim. Griscavage (56.65) also grabbed fifth with the eighth-fastest time in program history, while Ling (57.44) won the B Final with the program's ninth-best time. 

- Will Kilponen received silver in the 100 backstroke with a time of 50.58. The first-year moved into second all-time in program history as he outperformed his prelim mark. Herink (51.49) and Joey Lukner (51.95) also swam in the top finals for Swarthmore as they placed seventh and eighth, respectively. 

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1 - Swarthmore 620
2 - Gettysburg 402
2 - Franklin & Marshall 395

UP NEXT
The Garnet look to maintain their lead on the final day of the Centennial Conference Championships. The prelim session begins at 10 a.m. with the evening session scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.