Men's Swimming and Diving | January 20, 2019

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – La Salle swimming & diving will attempt to keep momentum rolling as they play host to Loyola (MD.) on Monday and then travel to Emmitsburg, Maryland to take on Mount St. Mary's this Saturday. The men (3-2) have won two consecutive single-competition meets and will have ambitions to remain perfect in second semester action this week. The women (0-6), meanwhile, are chasing their first win of the season.

ABOUT THE EXPLORERS

• To illustrate their recent dominance, the men's team have won the last two meets by a combined score of 388.5-208.5. Against Villanova on Wednesday they set a season high in points with 178, then topped it three days later vs. Fordham with 210.5. The latter score is their highest mark since the 2016-17 season.
• Additionally,  the men have won 27 out of 32 events to start the Spring semester, meaning a La Salle swimmer or diver has come out on top 84.4% of the time.
• Three-for-three deal: in each of the last three meets, Zachary Wolbert has been victorious in three events. Against Lehigh and Villanova, he touched first in the 100 and 200 Fly, along with the 200 IM. On Saturday vs. Fordham, he took home the 100 and 200 Fly, plus the 400 IM. In all five single-competition meets during his freshman campaign, Wolbert has owned the 200 Fly, winning the event every time.
• Marcus Forsgren is the only other swimmer to begin the semester with multiple wins in each meet: taking the 100 Free and 100 Breast on Wednesday, then the 50 Free and 100 Breast on Saturday. Others off to a fast start for the men's team include Daniel Johnson and Ian Venter, both with three wins over the last two meets.
• A few women have been at or near the top this semester. Phoebe Shaya has sprung from the boards this Spring: while she claimed silver twice against Villanova, she bounced back to win the 1-meter and 3-meter vs. Fordham. Sara Rizzetto was the only woman to take gold against the Wildcats, in the 200 Free, in addition to a second-place finish in the 200 Back. Against Fordham, she touched second in the 400 IM. Meanwhile, Carrie Horan was scintillating vs. the Rams, with victories in the 100 and 200 Breast, while finishing second in those two competitions at Villanova.

SCOUTING LOYOLA (MD.)

• The men's team is 2-2 in single-competition this season, having most recently lost at Bucknell. The women also fell in Lewisburg, which dropped their season record to 3-2. Notably, both men and women took first in the H2ounds Invitational last semester.
• Against Bucknell, the Greyhounds were headlined by Sung Lee on the men's side and Emma Schouten for the women. Lee touched first in the 100 and 200 Fly, while Schouten took gold for her efforts in the 200 Breast and 200 IM.
• Last time vs. Loyola (MD.): On January 15, 2018, La Salle men won 209-89 and the women fell 164-136. Individually, Olivia DiStefano starred on the day with wins in the 50 and 100 Free, plus the 100 Back. Emily Wolbert touched first in the 200 Fly. For the men, Aleksandar Nikolic took home the 200 Free and Forsgren found success in the 100 Free. The speedy Swede and Norm Gregory were part of a first-place relay team in the 200 Medley, while Gregory, along with Nikolic and Johnson, saw gold in the 200 Free relay.

SCOUTING MOUNT ST. MARY'S

• Thus far, the Mount's schedule has largely been occupied by invitationals and multi-team contests. The women's overall record sits at 5-1 and they are currently on a two-game winning streak. The men have not found the same success as the women, holding a 1-8 record with a lone win against Howard. 
• This will be the Mount's first action of the Spring semester and only their second single-competition meet all season. Against VMI to open the season, the women were victorious in nine of twelve events, book-ended by relay wins in the 200 Medley and 200 Free. The men dropped their season-opener despite a strong individual performance from Will Twizell, who claimed gold in the 100 Breast and 200 IM.
• Last time vs. Mount St. Mary's: On January 27, 2018, the Explorers finished with a clean sweep as the men won 100-69 and the women victorious by a score of 106-80. Kyle McElwee and Gustov Swedenborg topped the 100 and 500 Free respectively. Nikolic was victorious in the 200 Free, while Christoff Ras claimed the 200 Fly. For the women, Collin Kessinger doubled down with the 200 Breast and 400 IM, Emma Capro outlasted all challengers in the 1000 Free, and Wolbert took the 200 Fly. The men and women had relay success as both won the 400 Medley.
• The Explorers have recorded a clean sweep of Mount St. Mary's in each of the last two seasons.