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Program's First Dual Meet In The Books At Lycoming
Posted: 10/28/2008
Results | More Swimming news
Junior Sara Steinnagel was a double winner at Lycoming, taking the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke.

Williamsport, PA — With every intercollegiate meet becoming a literal step away from the unknown, the inaugural Messiah swimming program made another leap into actuality Tuesday, competing in a men’s and women’s dual meet at Lycoming College.

It was the first action ever for the Falcons’ women’s side, while the men broke through in a traditional meet after participating in the relay-only Bloomsburg University Relays Oct. 18.

And while Messiah’s men suffered a 117-79 defeat and the women a 128-71 loss, head coach Nancy Luley said she was ecstatic with how both teams performed against an upper-tier MAC Conference opponent.

“From the top to bottom, tonight was a total team effort on all fronts,” Luley said. “There were a lot of great moments to talk about. I think that Lyco was surprised at our level of competitiveness. All teams seem surprised at the (roster) numbers that we have, but I think Tuesday our swimming caught some attention, too.”

That challenge came early from the Falcons, as the Warriors’ natatorium came alive in both 200-yard medley relays. Messiah’s women’s team of junior Sara Steinnagel, sophomores Keren deRouville and Kara Geiman and freshman Ashley Bell were narrowly edged by Lycoming’s top foursome, finishing in 1:59.85 compared to Lyco’s 1:59.69 effort.

The Falcons’ men claimed its half of the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:45.53, as senior Mitchell Young, juniors John Haller and Anthony Addlesberger and freshman Zachary McArdle outswam their Lyco counterparts (the Warriors finished second in 1:45.53).

Steinnagel was Messiah’s only double winner on the night in individual swims, claiming the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:22.43 and the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:13.04.

Young claimed the men’s sole individual top finish in the 50-yard freestyle (:22.71), while Junior John Haller took an impressive second-place showing (1:54.63) in the men’s 200-yard freestyle.

Haller was also just two seconds off the pace in the 500-yard freestyle event, finishing third in a time of 5:29.22. Lyco’s Myles Biggs took first in a 5:27.21 clip.

Although mathematically eliminated from meet competition by the 22nd event of the night, Messiah’s men’s 200-yard freestyle team shone. A 1:32.78 effort from Young, McArdle, Addlesberger and junior Branden Brunner was the event’s fastest time, edging Lycoming’s 1:35.83 and 1:37.79 efforts.

In all, Tuesday’s meet provided a staunch barometer for Luley’s squads to measure up to, as Lycoming’s men and women both finished third in the MAC Championships last season.

“To get the kind of points we were able to is great,” Luley said. “Considering that three quarters of our team has been out of the water for one to three years as far as practicing competitively, it’s impressive what we’re doing. Overall, this was a very positive night for us. I’m really proud of each and every one of them.”

Messiah will host its first-ever intercollegiate meet Saturday, as the team welcomes Gettysburg College to Frederickson Natatorium for a dual meet. Events are slated to begin at 2 p.m.