WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University men's swimming began Atlantic East Conference competition here Saturday in the Field House Pool as the Bison hosted St. Mary's College of Maryland. The Seahawks won 13 of the 14 events to defeat the Bison, 201-51.
Despite the loss, the Bison (1-4, 0-1 Atlantic East) achieved a variety of personal victories.
Sophomore AJ Markel (College Park, Md.) broke the school record in the 50-yard butterfly event as he won the event in 25.11 seconds. The record was previously held by Gallaudet assistant coach Ben Sealts, who held the previous record of 25.37 seconds set back on Dec. 8, 2018. Now, Sealts has passed down his strategies and tips to those he is coaching this season and it was demonstrated today in Markel's first-place finish. Markel finished third in the 50-yard freestyle (23.44).
In addition to the new school record, many personal records (PRs) were also achieved among the team. Five total PRs were set by five different swimmers in their respective events.
BISON TRACKS
- Sophomore Sethan Rolofson (Gardner, Kan.) was second in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a PR of 13:41.49 and third in the 500-yard freestyle (6:32.86)
- Fellow sophomore Abdullah Alghamdi (Dammam, Saudi Arabia) followed Rolofson in the 500-yard freestyle in fourth place with a new personal record (7:55.15)
- First-year William Nichols (Beavercreek, Ohio) posted a PR in the 100-yard backstroke (1:13.12)
- First-year Santiago Paiva (Louisville, Colo.) finished fourth 100-yard freestyle with a PR time of 1:34.29
- Sophomore Trent Mora (Austin, Texas) finished fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (26.95)
- Sophomore John'Ta Price (Phoenix, Arizona) was right behind Mora in the 50 free iin fifth with a PR of 29.94
- GU's 200-yard freestyle relay team of junior Elan Markel (College Park, Md.), Mora, Nichols and AJ Markel placed second (1:41.67)
- Sophomore Skyler Officer (Skoke, Ill.) came in fourth-place in the 100 yard IM (1:27.81) and fifth in the 100-yard backstroke (1:32.56)
UP NEXT
Gallaudet will next travel to Immaculata University (2-1) in Pennsylvania on Friday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m. for a conference meet.
