Salisbury swimming glides by Hood
SALISBURY, Md. - The New Year got off to a great start for the Salisbury University swimming program as the men's and women's teams completed a sweep over Hood College on Saturday afternoon at the Maggs Center pool in a Capital Athletic Conference meet. The Sea Gulls' men's team won 69-44 while the women's team won 69-55 in a shorten meet (11 events each).

Both SU teams improve their respective records to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in conference for the 2007-08 season.

The Salisbury women's team was led by junior Raienne South who won the 100-yard freestyle (58.32) and the 200 free (2:06.69) to secure 18 points for the Sea Gulls. Freshman Katy Turner won the 100 butterfly (1:04.55) as senior Erin Smith finished second (1:07.32). Sophomore Lindsay Southworth won the 200 IM (2:26.14) as she edged out teammate Maureen Gillespie (2:27.69). Gillespie was also third in the 100 free with a time of 59.74. Freshman Becky Akers won the 800 free as she crushed the field with a time of 11:13.58 as Hood’s Amy Kauffman finished 15 seconds behind in second place. The SU 200 meter relay team of Kelsey Rada, Laura Dignan, Smith and Caitlin McGing came in first with a time of 1:137.12 while the Sea Gulls’ other relay team of Southworth, Jessica Krauss, Angie Hammond and Laura Kordzikowski finished with a time of 1:43.49. SU had a third team in the relay consisting of Michele Theiss, Lauren Buda, Amber Luedtke and Sarah Duffy who finished with a time of 1:48.15.

On the men's side, the Sea Gulls won six of the 10 events that awarded team points. The 200 meter relay team of Drew Robichaud, Kyle Miller, Ian Branigan and John Lorman finished with a time of 1:47.16 to secure 11 points for the maroon and gold. The other Sea Gull relay team of Matt Anderson, Eddie Rubenstein, Mike Radloff and Chris McGaunn was five seconds behind at 1:52.54 to earn four points.

Senior Ross Spangler won the 200 free (1:54.31) while teammates Brad Buckley (2:03.95) and Rubenstein (2:07.96) finished third and fourth respectively. SU swept the 50 free as senior Cole Mangum (22.49) edged out Benjamin Overholt (22.90) followed by Chris Smith (23.82). The Sea Gulls finished first and second in the 200 IM. Sophomore Mike Ferrari (2:15.50) won the event followed by Branigan (2:19.22). Ferrari also won the 100 breast (1:07.59). The final first-place finish for the Sea Gulls came in the 200 free relay as the team of McGaunn, Carl Stockman, Sean Snee and Ryan Forbes grabbed 11 points with a time of 1:47.36.

Salisbury will host in-state rival Frostburg State University next Saturday at 1 p.m. in the final home meet of the season for the Sea Gulls.