Nov. 5, 2011

Final Stats

BALTIMORE - The Loyola University Maryland men's swimming and diving team earned nine individual victories throughout the final day of the annual Thomas Murphy Invitational, while two relay teams claimed top honors on Saturday at the Mangione Aquatics Center.

Tony Florida was named the recipient of the 2011 Thomas Murphy Scholarship prior to the start of the final event. The award, named in memory of the former Loyola swimming and diving coach, is given yearly to a member of the team who exhibits excellence in academics and character.

The Greyhounds also participated in a food drive for Thanksgiving throughout the meet, collecting 800 pounds of canned goods for the needy.

Loyola's men's team finished the meet with a 202-162 win over Saint Francis, but they fell, 205-156, to Johns Hopkins. On the women's side, the Blue Jays defeated Loyola, 210-152.

Junior Brennan Morris extended his streak of individual victories to nine - and remains unbeaten in individual events this season - with first-place finishes in the 200-yard backstroke, 400-yard individual medley and 1650-yard freestyle. Morris hit the NCAA B standard in the 400-yard individual medley, clocking in at 3:54.05. That time ranks third in the NCAA this year, while his 1650-yard freestyle time of 15:34.22 ranks fifth in the country.

The two-time MAAC Swimmer of the Week this year turned in a winning time of 1:49.24 in the 200-yard backstroke. He was also a member of Loyola's 400-yard freestyle relay team that finished first and the Greyhounds' 200-yard medley relay team that finished second.

The quartet of Florida, Morris, senior Patrick Mukri and junior Jeffrey Rowe combined to win the 400-yard freestyle in 3:09.67, while the team of Morris, Rowe, Mukri and sophomore Julien Brice touched second in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:35.82.

On the women's side, Loyola's 400-yard freestyle relay team of freshman Brianna Keelan, senior Mary Henkels, senior Lauren Mari and sophomore Caitlin Cronin was victorious (3:36.56), while Cronin also claimed two individual titles and Henkels had a pair of top-three finishes.

Cronin won the 100-yard freestyle in 52.35 and the 200-yard freestyle in 1:54.72. Henkels finished second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:10.17) and took third in the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.30).

In the men's 200-yard freestyle, Mukri touched first in 1:43.64, while the Greyhounds placed three in the top three of the 200-yard butterfly events. Junior Abby Wiese finished first on the women's side in 2:11.67 and sophomore Noelle Staib finished third in 2:14.90. On the men's side, junior Ryan Shovlin earned runner-up honors in 1:57.05.

In addition, Loyola had two third-place finishers in the 400-yard individual medley, with senior Courtney Trivino finishing the women's race in 4:41.19 and sophomore Ben Duva touching on the men's side in 4:17.72. Duva also finished second in the 1650-yard freestyle (17:02.11).

In the 100-yard butterfly, Rowe took third in 52.64, while he also finished third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.66). Freshman Joe Wise finished 14th in the 400-yard individual medley, setting a new SM10 American record with a time of 4:40.17.

In relay events, Loyola's men's 200-yard freestyle relay team of Brice, Florida, sophomore Zachary Eller and Rowe finished second in 1:26.96, while the women's team of Keelan, Henkels, senior Lauren Mari and Cronin finished third in 1:40.33. The Greyhounds' 200-yard medley relay team of Henkels, freshman Maya Olivieri, sophomore Courtney Chenet and Cronin finished second with a time of 1:50.41.

In diving events, the Greyhounds swept top honors in both competitions. Sophomore Michael Brown won the 3-meter diving with a score of 241.05, a mark that ranks third all-time at Loyola, while freshman Tim Brooks was second. Brooks' score of 228.60 ranks fourth in program history.

On the women's side, sophomore Elizabeth Mixa won the 1-meter diving with a score of 253.05. Her finish was just over two points shy of Megan Sterback's school record of 255.23 from 2006.

Loyola will return to action next weekend when it heads to Howard for a dual meet on Saturday, Nov. 12. Events are set to begin at 1 p.m.