Results

The Carthage College men's swimming team (1-4 dual-meet record), ranked 23rd in the Jan. 13 "CollegeSwimming.com" poll, lost to No. 37 Wheaton College (Ill.), 135-127, on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Koenitzer Aquatic Center in Kenosha, Wis. Carthage led by six points, 116-110, with two events to go.  Going into the final relay event, the Thunder had a narrow, 124-121 edge and won the meet by winning the final event.
 
Carthage's Nick Sall (Fr., Zeeland, Mich./West) won the 200 freestyle (1:46.50) and took second in both the 200 backstroke (2:00.80) and the 400 individual medley (4:18.87).  James Weslaski (Fr., Racine, Wis./Case) won the 100 butterfly (53.29), and Cameron Small (So., Franksville, Wis./Racine-Case) claimed the 100 freestyle (48.93). 
 
Chris Riordan (Fr., Skokie, Ill./Niles North) placed second in both the 100 breaststroke  (1:01.00) and the 200 breaststroke (2:14.70).  James Hill (Fr., Prospect Heights, Ill./Arlington Heights-Hersey) was second in the 1,000 freestyle (10:26.26), as was Erik Pinter (Fr., Bloomington, Ill./Normal-Community) in the 200 freestyle (1:47.34), Lee Hollman (Fr., Fort Atkinson, Wis.) in the 100 backstroke (53.58). Derrick Rendon (Jr., Waukesha, Wis./South) in the 200 butterfly (2:05.58) and James Hasbrouck (Fr., Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South) in the 50 freestyle (22.31).  Carthage also picked up a win from its 200 medley team of Lee Hollman, Chris Riordan, Lucas Linder (So., Bensenville, Ill./Fenton) and James Weslaski.
 
"I was a little worried going in," said Carthage coach Greg Earhart.  "We killed them in practice on Friday, then lost three top guys (due to a separated rib, bronchitis and graduate school interviews) and had to ask guys to swim different events, and they responded well.  It was a like a heavyweight bout.  The lead changed about five times over the course of the meet.  In the end, that 0.67 of a second (the margin between the two 400 freestyle relay teams)] was the difference between winning and losing.  Still, that relay was nearly two seconds faster than we have been this year.  It was really great to see the fans get behind the "Red Out" promotion.  There was one couple that showed up wearing blue, but we took care of them.  Seriously, it means a lot to both our swimmers and coaches and I to see President and Mrs. Woodward out supporting the team."
 
Carthage plays host to the Wisconsin Private College Swimming Championship on Saturday, Jan. 25, also at the Koenitzer Aquatic Center, beginning at Noon.