03/01/2009
Garr Shines, Men's Swim & Dive Finish Strong at NEWMAC Championships

NORTON, MASS. 3/1/09 - Clark University freshman Ryan Garr swam to a 15th nationally ranked time by the latest D3swimming.com standards, earned All-New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) first-team honors, and set a new pool and school record with his first place finish in the 200-yard backstroke in the final day of competition at the NEWMAC men's swimming and diving championships at Wheaton College's Balfour Natatorium.

Garr, who broke his own mark by winning the race in a time of 1:51.66, became the first Cougar swimmer or diver to earn All-NEWMAC honors since L. Parker Barnum '04 in 2002. The Kingston, R.I. native walks away with from his first NEWMAC Championships with three new individual Clark records, seven total school marks, and a pair of NCAA "B" cut performances.

"In swimming and diving, you have to win to receive all conference," said head coach Paul E. Phillips, "so it's a great achievement for Ryan. And to be ranked in the top-20 in the country is a pretty big accomplishment. He swam a great race. He had a great rookie meet, as did our entire freshman class."

Clark set new school records [ View Complete Record Board ]in four of five relays this weekend, including tonight's 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 3:12.73. The team of Drew Jackson, Ryan Garr, Lamar Duffy, and Cooper Hart shattered the previous record set in 1994 by over three seconds.

"Of the four relay teams that broke records this weekend, two of them had three freshman on it," Phillips said. "But, the senior leadership was really pivotal to their success."

Stellar performances were also found by Jackson in the 200-back with a sixth place finish in a time of 1:57.59 (second all-time top-five); freshman Cooper Hart placed 13th in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:21.06), while sophomore Dan Howard took 13th in the 200 butterfly in 2:04.43, moving to fourth on Clark's all-time register. Jackson's four-year career featured a combined five individual school records and four relay marks throughout his tenure.

Senior Sal Pezzella and freshman Sam Moody earned fourth (371.00) and fifth (350.20), respectively, on the 3-meter diving board. Also garnering Clark's all-time top-five status, Pezzella took over second, while Moody is now in fifth on the record board.

"The diving group did a great job throughout the season, culminating with a solid championship," Phillips said. "I'm really happy with the overall result. We did well and got everyone in the mix."

Last weekend's women's championship saw the Clark women earn its highest finish (5th) since joining the NEWMAC and set the stage for the Cougar men.

"It takes a total team effort, entire roster contributing and once the great performances start rolling in, it becomes contagious," Phillips said. "It started last weekend with the women's meet and the guys got pumped up to have their chance this weekend."

Clark, which tied the women's team with nine new school marks at this weekend's championship, concluded the meet in sixth place with 341 points. MIT captured its fourth NEWMAC Championship.

"The great thing about our sport is that we are two separate teams (women's & men's) and two separate sports (swim & dive), but we are one team all year long, and that's how each part contributes to each other."

Team Standings

1. MIT, 1,030

2. Coast Guard, 784.5

3. Springfield, 613

4. WPI, 365

5. Wheaton, 360

6. Clark, 341

7. Babson, 243.5

Clark Records

2/27/09

Prelim: 200-yard freestyle relay - 8th/1:28.04 (Garr, Duffy, Hart, Jackson)

Jackson: 500-yard freestyle (5th/4:44.80)

400-yard medley relay - 5th/3:35.52 (Garr, Hart, Howard, Jackson)

Garr: 100-backstroke (52.72)

2/28/09

200-yard medley relay - 7th/1:39.17 (Garr, Hart, Howard, Jackson)

Jackson, 200-yard freestyle (1:44.55)

Garr: 100-yard backstroke (3rd/52.55)

3/01/09

Garr: 200-yard backstroke (1st/1:51.66)

400-yard freestyle relay - 6th/3:12.73 (Jackson, Garr, Duffy, Hart)

[ View Complete Record Board ]