BROOKE ATKINS
Staff Writer
This past weekend, Fredonia held the Blue Devil Invitational for the men’s swimming and diving team. The Invitational consists of nine teams from different colleges that come and compete. Although there was the typical cheering and laughing inside the natatorium Friday, Saturday and Sunday, this competition was unlike any other.
Starting off strong for the men’s team, senior Will Baker swam a personal best in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.88 seconds, which landed him in sixth place. Continuing strong, junior Troy Lubanski placed sixth in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:00.17. Swimming a personal best of 22.61 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle, sophomore Bill Bradley placed 11th.
At the end of Friday, the men placed fifth in the first of five sessions for the weekend.
Competing in the Blue Devil Invitational is a happy special moment that is filled with many memories, especially one’s first time. One special moment that stuck out to freshman David Carls was when he got to wear a tech suit for the first time.
“I’ve never swam competitively in this type of magnitude, so it is all constantly new experiences and I love it,” said Carls.
The intensity and atmosphere was crazy during those three days.
“I am told the Invitational is designed like the championships, so as a team we are trying to enjoy the experience and get the best time.”
Starting out Saturday morning bright and early, senior Rafael Santiago clinched an individual winners spot at the Blue Devil Invitational in the men’s 3-meter dive. Santiago’s score was NCAA provisional qualifying along with junior Arron Carlson’s.
At the finals Saturday night only eight men appeared including Baker, junior Adam Clouthier, Bradley and freshman Jake Favret.
Both Baker and Clouthier had the best finishes by the Blue Devil men. Baker placed third in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 47.79 seconds, and Clouthier was third in the 100-yard individual medley with a time of 56.17 seconds. Bradley clinched fourth place in the 200-yard butterfly and Favret placed fourth in the 100 individual medley.
With the help of the points from the diving team, it bumped the men up to third place to end Saturday night.
“My favorite part of this weekend is the atmosphere. There aren’t too many sports where you are friends with your competition and it’s really nice being around people that want you to do well. With diving we are all friends and have a great time,” said junior Jacob Storms.
“My goal for the three meter is to just get through it, but for the one meter I would like to qualify for nationals and it would feel so great to do that at this meet” said Storms.
Closing out his final invitational, Santiago won both the 1-meter and 3-meter dive. Santiago finished just ahead of his teammate Carlson by a score of 523.80 compared to Carlson’s at 518.30 on the 1-meter dive. Santiago finished with a score of 492.00 on the 3-meter dive.
Baker finished third in the 200-yard freestyle, and Clouthier was sixth in the 200-yard breaststroke. Bradley finished strong taking fifth place and Lubanski sixth in the 100-yard butterfly. Along with that, Lubanski and Bradley contributed to the 200-yard medley relay team that finished fifth along with Favret and Liam Jones.
The Fredonia men finished the Invitational placing third with 602.5 points. Wheeling Jesuit took first place for the men with 725 points.
Fredonia’s next meet will be Jan. 16 at Grove City after the holidays.