November 11, 2007

(CLARION, PA.): Clarion's Men's Swimming team downed Duquesne 167-123 on Saturday afternoon at W.S. Tippin Natatorium, while the women's team dropped a close 148-145 decision.

The Golden Eagle men raised their record to 2-2 on the season, while the women posted their first loss and are now 3-1.

The women were led by Lori Leitzinger (Sr. State College) who won both the 100 backstroke (58.80) and the 200 backstroke (2:07.57). She was also part of the winning 400 free and 400 medley relays to gain 4 first place finishes on the day.

Rebecca Burgess (So. Gibsonia) won the 200 breaststroke (2:32.73) and Kaitlyn Johnson (Fr. Uniontown) won the 100 butterfly (59.55).

The 400 medley relay winners were Leitzinger, Johnson, Kelly Connolly (Fr. Cranberry Twp.) and Gina Mattucci (Fr. Jeannette/Penn Trafford). The 400 free relay winners were Leitzinger, Johnson, Mattucci and Connolly.

Sophomore freestyler Ryan Thiel (Ligonier) starred for the men winning a total of four events. Individually he captured the 50 free (21.98), 100 free (47.88) and 200 freestyle (1:45.20) races, along with anchoring the winning 400 medley relay team with a 3:31.35.

Also posting winning efforts were Rich Eckert (So. Versailles) in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.04), Mike Kerr (Sr. Lansdale) in the 100 back (53.52), Dustin Fedunok (So. Gibsonia) in the 500 free (4:54.84), Andrew Soisson (So. Mechanicsburg) in the 400 IM (4:27.60) and Jon Kofmehl (Fr. Johnstown) in the 200 backstroke (2:03.79). Kerr, Eckert, Thiel and A.J. Claypool (So. Kittanning) were on the winning 400 medley relay.

The swimming and diving team will be off until November 30th - December 2nd when they swim at the Zippy Invitational at Akron, Ohio.