Eagles Fall to Defending National Champs in Season Opener

GRANVILLE, Ohio – Asbury swimming couldn’t measure up to the defending NCAA III men’s National champions and women’s Runners-Up in their first meet of the season on Saturday.  The Eagles tallied 94 points on the women’s side and 96 on the men’s while Denison racked up 186 and 181.

Sophomore Daniel Bowman was the lone Eagle to win a race, capturing the 200 fly in 1:57.69 over Daniel Hellman, who came in at 1:58.04.  Bowman’s time was good enough to qualify for NAIA Nationals in Oklahoma City in March.  He would also qualify in the 500 free after swimming a 4:53.

The men would go on to qualify the 200 medley and 400 free relays in times of 1:41.31 and 3:21.16.  The women would qualify in both relays as well as the 200 medley team swam a 1:53.89 and the 400 free in 3:50.42.

Senior Larissa Martin would qualify for nationals in two events, 200 fly and 400 IM.  Martin’s 200 fly time was 2:19.48 and her 400 IM was clocked at 4:54.38.  Sophomore Taryn Albright also qualified for nationals in the 100 fly with a 1:01.44 and junior Elizabeth Johns qualified in the 400 IM with a 5:01.28.

The Eagles will return to the pool on Friday October 28th at Lindsey Wilson in a double-dual meet against St. Catharine.  Asbury will host an Alumni Meet on Saturday October 29th at 10:30 a.m.