Robinson, Wood Record Wins in Season-Opening Meet

FREDERICK, Md. - Senior Kelci Wood (Spencer, Ind./Owen Valley) and sophomore Ella Robinson (Canajoharie, N.Y./Canajoharie) of the Goucher College women's swimming team posted individual event victories as the Gopher swim teams opened the season with a tri-meet against Hood College and Stevenson University at the Huntsinger Aquatics Center Saturday afternoon.

The Gopher women were edged by Hood 98-92 and fell to Stevenson 138-61.  Goucher's men's team was swept by Hood (143-21) and the Mustangs (144-27).

Wood took first in the women's 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:00.08, edging Hailey Buenemann of Stevenson by 0.94 seconds. 

Robinson prevailed in the 100 breaststroke with a mark of 1:14.21, besting Mackayla Du of Stevenson's 1:14.78.  She also took third in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:09.05.

Olivia Reichardt (Monument, Colo./Palmer) finished second in the 50-yard freestyle with a 27.45-second swim.  She was also third in the 100 free behind Wood with a time of 1:02.43.

Avery McEachern (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) placed third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:17.13, just edging Wood, who was fourth at 2:17.27.  Alejandra Barry-Ruiz (New Haven, Conn./Amity) was third in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:11.02.

The relay of Wood, Barry-Ruiz, Robinson and Darcy McFarland (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) took second in the 200 medley with a 2:04.89 effort.  Barry-Ruiz, McEachern, Reichardt and Alana Moore (Bronx, N.Y./Frank McCourt) took second in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:58.04.

For the Gopher men, first year Ben Graff (Baltimore, Md./Friends School) took second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:01.05.  He also swam a 1:02.37 in the 100 IM.  Richie Bialik (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown) placed fourth in the 1000 freestyle with a 12:18.13 effort.

Goucher returns to the pool next Saturday when it travels to Elizabethtown for a tri-meet with the Blue Jays and Immaculata.  The Gophers' home opener is set for Saturday, November 12 when it hosts Catholic at 1 pm at the von Borries Aquatic Center.