Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania swimming and diving team produced milestone wins on Saturday, claiming a 327-171 combined win over the Wittenberg University Tigers and a 311-217 victory over the Wilmington College Quakers in a tri-meet at William T. Young Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers christened their 2021-22 home opener with overall victories over Wittenberg and Wilmington to further chart the program's ascent.
The Pioneer women's team delivered resounding wins against both opponents, winning 171-90 over Wittenberg, and 191-79 against Wilmington. The Transylvania men's team picked up a 156-81 triumph over Wittenberg, and was edged out by Wilmington in their isolated results, 138-120, but carried enough points to factor into the combined wins.
Transylvania staked its claim to victory on Saturday with a pair of wins in the women's 200 individual medley and the women's freestyle medley relays. Sophie Ritzenthaler, Olivia Greinke, Sami Monarch, and Mary Grace Thompson teamed up for a win in the women's 200 medley relay, winning by nearly six seconds in a time of 1:57.63. The quartet of Logan Thomas, Thompson, Rachel Foster, and Monarch delivered another win in the women's 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:46.52.
Monarch produced more clutch results with a win in the women's 50 freestyle race (25.44 seconds) and a runner-up placing in the women's 100 butterfly. The junior was one of nine individual winners for the Pioneers on Saturday.
Connor Hood was the ringleader for the Pioneers in their home opener, taking victories in the men's 1000 freestyle (10:58.36) and the men's 200 backstroke (2:06.70). Hood displayed his marathon prowess with additional second place finishes in the men's 100 backstroke and as part of the men's 200 freestyle relay race.
Ritzenthaler was a dynamo for the Pioneers in the backstroke events, winning the women's 100 backstroke (1:05.97) and the 200 backstroke (2:22.40) to add to her first-place finish in the women's 200 medley relay.
Mary Grace Thompson had her second straight week with an individual win, touching the wall first in the women's 100 freestyle race (56.98 s) and finishing just behind Monarch in the women's 50 freestyle sprint (25.71 s) to go with her two victories in the relays.
Devon Parker earned another sprint win for the Pioneers, capturing victory in the men's 50 freestyle (23.32 s) and taking runner-up honors in the men's 200 breaststroke (2:28.77). Parker had help on the men's side from Aiden Rock, who recorded three top-2 finishes including a win in the men's 500 freestyle, outlasting the field in 5:12.66 to win by over seven seconds.
Olivia Greinke picked up an individual win in the women's 200 breaststroke (2:43.48) and added a runner-up placing in the women's 200 individual medley. Grace Vogel showed off her speed with a first-place finish in the women's 100 breaststroke (1:18.03) and Morgan Green won the women's 200 butterfly event (2:49.70).
The Pioneers head on the road next Friday, November 5 to Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky for a dual meet at 6:00 p.m. before returning to William T. Young Center the following afternoon for a 1:00 p.m. conference dual meet against Manchester to open up the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule.
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