Wheaton, Ill. -- The Wheaton men's and women's swimming teams hosted their second dual meet of the 2021-22 season on Saturday, finishing off a two-day event against the Carthage Firebirds that began in Kenosha on Friday. The Thunder men's squad lost by just three points, 163-160, while the women's group fell 217-106 to the visitors. After coming up against strong competition, both teams' records now sit at 0-4 on the young season.
The men's team was once again led by sophomore
Anthony Fitzgerald, who maintained his personal hot streak in 2021 by placing first in the 200 and 100 yard breaststroke events alike. He also claimed top spot in the 200 yard IM swim to complete the individual hat-trick this weekend. Proving he can perform just as well in a team setting, Fitzgerald helped steer his 400 yard and 200 yard medley pairings to victory over their Firebird counterparts. Relay teammate
Dawson Bremner, also having a strong individual start to the campaign, won the 12-man 200 yard freestyle event and placed second in the 200 yard butterfly. Senior swimmer
Ethan Kile claimed his first solo event victory of the season by placing first in the 200 yard backstroke race and also came within .01 second of having the best total time in the 100 yard IM competition.
AJ Staiti notched a first-place finish in the 100 yard butterfly, and while he did not manage an individual event victory across the two days of competition,
Harrison Smith earned a pair of runner-up placements in the 500 yard freestyle and 1000 yard freestyle events.
Regarding the women's team, Abigail Rutledge won another event, this time triumphing in the 200 yard butterfly. Fellow senior Alex McKeaney won her first individual race of the campaign, coming in first in the 100 yard freestyle competition. Rachel Clancy notched another victory in what is fast becoming an eye-opening start to her collegiate career by securing top spot in the 100 yard breaststroke race. Abby Pardridge triumphed in the nine-swimmer 100 yard IM event, and she teamed up with Rutledge, Clancy, and Katie Yonan to win the 200 yard medley relay for Wheaton. Adding to this, the Thunder women's team had a number of impressive second-place finishes on Saturday, with Yonan (1000 yard, 500 yard and 200 yard freestyles), McKeaney (50 yard freestyle), Rutledge (100 yard butterfly), and Pardridge (200 yard backstroke) all putting in solid performances despite missing out on top honors in the aforementioned competitions.
The two teams will return to the pool in two weeks' time when the Thunder host the Wheaton Invitational on Friday, December 3rd and Saturday, December 4th.
