A great start by the Wabash 200 medley relay team and great individual efforts by freshman Elijah Sanders, sophomore Jordon Blackwell, and senior Tony Caldwell led the Little Giants to a dominating 172.5 to 127.5 victory over DePauw University in swimming and diving.
The Little Giants swept the top-two spots in the opening event. The team of Caldwell, Robert Dent, Kyle Weaver, and Blaine Cooper-Surma won the 200 medley relay with a time 1:38.02, followed by teammates Pat Laughlin, Kyle O'Keefe, Adam Petro, and Philip Towne in second (1:40.42).
Then it was Sanders' turn. The newcomer won the 1000 freestyle race with a time of 10:05.85 to earn nine points for the Wabash team. Later in the meet he took the top spot in the 500 free with a time of 4:51.72. Sanders earned the trifecta with a victory in the 400-yard individual medley (4:20.62), giving him wins in all three long distance events.
Caldwell, who has battled an illness for several weeks, showed no signs of any ill effects Friday night. In addition to being a part of the winning 200 medley relay team, he won the 100 backstroke (53.77) and the 200 backstroke (2:00.17).
Blackwell scored his first individual victory in the 200 freestyle with a winning time of 1:45.77. He also took second in the 100 free (48.22).
Dent won the 100 breaststroke (1:02.77), finishing just ahead of O'Keefe (1:02.60) to give the Little Giants a 1-2 finish in the event. Petro was an individual winner in the 200 butterfly (2:00.56). Brent Graham took first place in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.60).
"We swam well, but we have a lot to work on both in and out of the pool," head coach Peter Casares said after claiming his first career victory over the Tigers. "Especially if we want to compete with the best at the national meet."
The Little Giants return to action Saturday afternoon at Rose-Hulman.