BALTIMORE, MD -- Senior Maryann Walker (right) won two individual events and swam the third leg of the victorious 200-yard freestyle relay team to lead the University of Delaware women’s swimming team to wins over Marist, Drexel, and host Loyola on Saturday in the four-team, two-day H2Ounds Invitational.

The Hens scored 220 points or more in all three wins, topping Loyola, 222-148, Marist, 226-144, and Drexel, 256-112.

Walker glided to a win in the 200-yard freestyle in Saturday morning’s session, clocking 1:55.68, and returned later in the day to take the 200-yard backstroke in 2:08.22. In the first event of the day, she teamed with Rachel Greene, Donna Healey, and Sarah Begley to capture the 200-yard freestyle relay.

The Blue Hens also got first-place finishes from senior Michelle Stephens in the 400-yard individual medley (4:43.47), freshman Meghan Barber in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:29.21), and junior Kailey Pelton in the 200-yard butterfly (2:12.78). Meanwhile, freshman Cortney Barry picked up her second individual win of the meet when she swam 17:26.16 in the 1650-yard freestyle for a 13-second victory.

Barber added a second-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.93), while Walker anchored the Hens’ 400-yard freestyle relay team to a second-place swim in 3:38.41. Freshman Lauren Guntner touched the wall second in the 400-yard IM, just a half-second behind her teammate, and junior Emily Smathers was narrowly beaten by Walker in the 200-yard backstroke (2:09.82).

Greene took second  in the 100-yard freestyle, stopping the clock in 54.41 seconds, while the 200-yard medley relay team of Smathers, Barber, Greene, and Begley picked up big points with a second-place finish of their own (1:51.08). Begley (100-yard butterfly, 59.61), Barry (200-yard freestyle, 1:56.52), and Walker (100-yard backstroke, 1:00.20) all scored key points with third-place finishes.

The Blue Hen women, who also swept last season’s H2Ounds Invitational, won nine of 20 events overall and improved to 10-1 on the year with the sweep. UD has started 10-1 in each of the last three seasons. The Hens won’t take to the pool again until Jan. 5, when they host Towson. 

The UD men didn’t make such a splash, as they defeated Drexel by a 192-175 tally but fell to Loyola, 223-147, and Marist, 204-166. Grady Carter, Zack Schiavo, John Ohlhaver, and Andrew Zinn provided a Hen highlight in the 200-yard freestyle relay, clocking 1:25.81 for Delaware’s only win of the day.

Ohlhaver added a second-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, touching the wall after just 53.25 seconds, and placed third in the 200-yard backstroke (1:57.89).   

Carter took third in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 59.48 clocking and came back later to match that effort in the 100-yard freestyle (47.90), while fellow freshman Matt Wehrman touched the wall third in the 1650-yard freestyle (16:38.99). The Blue Hens also placed third in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:10.60) and the 200-yard medley relay (1:36.64).

The Delaware men are now 6-3 on the season. The Hens return to action on Jan. 5, when Towson comes to Newark.
           
AGATE:

H2Ounds Invitational at Loyola College: Day Two Results

Women’s Final Scores:

Delaware 222, Loyola 148
Delaware 226, Marist 144
Delaware 256, Drexel 112
Marist 223, Drexel 144
Loyola 233, Drexel 145
Marist 190, Loyola 180

Delaware Women’s Top-Six Finishers – Day Two

1st Place: 200-yard freestyle relay (Greene, Healey, Walker, Begley), 1:39.53; Michelle Stephens, 400-yard individual medley (4:43.47); Maryann Walker, 200-yard freestyle (1:55.68); Cortney Barry, 1650-yard freestyle (17:26.16); Maryann Walker, 200-yard backstroke (2:08.22); Meghan Barber, 200-yard breaststroke (2:29.21); Kailey Pelton, 200-yard butterfly (2:12.78)

2nd Place: Lauren Guntner, 400-yard individual medley (4:43.93); Meghan Barber, 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.93); 200-yard medley relay (Smathers, Barber, Begley, Greene), 1:51.08; Emily Smathers, 200-yard backstroke (2:09.82); Rachel Greene, 100-yard freestyle (54.41); 400-yard freestyle relay (Greene, Healey, Gallagher, Walker), 3:38.41

3rd Place: Sarah Begley, 100-yard butterfly (59.61); Cortney Barry, 200-yard freestyle (1:56.52); Maryann Walker, 100-yard backstroke (1:00.20)

4th Place: Cathy Gallagher, 400-yard individual medley (4:52.95); Emily Smathers, 100-yard backstroke (1:00.95); Melissa Berke, 3-meter diving (184.65); Sarah Begley, 100-yard freestyle (54.89); Donna Healey, 200-yard breaststroke (2:34.70); Stephanie House, 200-yard butterfly (2:14.63)

5th Place: 200-yard freestyle relay (Gallagher, Butler, DeCrescente, House), 1:43.53; Stephanie House, 100-yard butterfly (1:01.35); Emily Watts, 200-yard backstroke (2:10.81)

6th Place: Barbara McHale, 400-yard individual medley (4:53.49); Emily Smathers, 100-yard butterfly (1:01.58); Emily Watts, 100-yard backstroke (1:01.53); Donna Healey, 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.74); Lauren Guntner, 1650-yard freestyle (18:15.93); 200-yard medley relay (Watts, McHale, Pelton, Gallagher), 1:55.68; Michelle Stephens, 200-yard breaststroke (2:35.78); 400-yard freestyle relay (House, DeCrescente, Kane, Barry), 3:45.65; Lisa Goyette, 1-meter diving (151.40)

Boxscore