10/25/2008
Swim and Dive Sink Babson College

BABSON PARK, MASS. 10/25/08 - The Clark University men's and women's swim and dive teams posted a pair of wins over Babson College in its first dual meet of the season on Saturday afternoon.

The Clark men (1-0) beat Babson, 150-144, earning its first win against the Beavers since 2005. The Cougar women (1-0), on the other hand, claimed its fourth straight victory over Babson (155-137).

"It was probably the most exciting dual meet that we've had since I've been here," said coach Paul E. Phillips. "Every race was close; and at Babson the fans are right on top of you, so it made for a very exciting environment."

The afternoon's first men's race was evidence for the excitement to follow, when the 200-medley relay team of freshmen Ryan Garr and Cooper Hart, sophomore Dan Howard and senior Drew Jackson out-touched Babson's relay by .26 seconds in a time of 1:44.26.

The Cougars were able to hold onto the lead (58-54) with first-place finishes in three of the next five races. Garr won the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.62); Hart prevailed in the 50-yard breaststroke (30.60), and Howard finished first in the 100-yard butterfly (57:44).

Babson took over the lead twice with the last coming on its 100-yard free victory (87-81), but Clark strung together three straight wins, including Garr's new school record in the 100-yard backstroke (54.54), to secure the team victory.

Hart finished with two more wins in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.27) and 200-yard individual medley (2:11.60), while Jackson captured the 500-yard freestyle (5:12.91).

Senior Sal Pezella, who returned to the team after a year away from the sport, picked up wins on the 1-meter (203.60) and 3-meter diving boards (228.05).

Freshman Erin Smith had a solid showing for the Clark women. She topped the field in the 50- (25.99) and 100-yard (56.69) freestyle events. Sophomores Elizabeth Rosen and Britney Wigley earned their first victories of the season in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:24.62) and 500-yard freestyle (5:32.76), respectively.

In diving events, freshman Eileen Garcia took first on the 1-meter board (191.25) and senior Jess Baker won the 3-meter event (192.70).

The Clark women's squad will compete in a double dual meet against Elms College and host Mount Holyoke College, while the men's team will swim against Elms next Saturday (2 p.m.).