A close dual swimming and diving meet between Wabash and DePauw Friday night in Greencastle ended in a 159-141 final in favor of the host Tigers. DePauw victories in the final two events gave the Tigers the meet.
With the score tied at 132-132 going into the final two events, the Tigers Josh Baugh led two teammates to the finish line to win the 200 individual medley. The Tigers took first in the 400 free relay, outdistancing Jordon Blackwell, Blaine Cooper-Surma, Craig Vetor, and Matt Routh in second place with a time of 3:13.54.
Wabash sophomore Adam Petro took two first-place finishes and one second. The All-American won the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:55.13. He added another victory in the 200 backstroke, touching the wall in 1:55.84. Petro took second in the 100 fly (53.51), as well.
Elijah Sanders led a solid effort by the Little Giants' distance swimmers. Sanders won both the 1000 free (10:07.69) and the 500 free. Wabash swept the top three places in the 500 with Chad Woods finishing second (4:57.42) and Vetor placing third (4:59.19). Woods was also second in the 1000 with a time of 10:16.23. Paul Wilson posted a lifetime best time in the 1000 (10:31.66) to finish fourth.
Zach Phillips battled back from a separated shoulder to win the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.73. Phillips joined Evan Rhinesmith, Petro, and Robert Fozkos in the opening race of the meet --- the 200 medley relay --- to finish second (1:37.72).
Rhinesmith added individual second place finishes in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.84) and 200 breaststroke (2:15.35). Blackwell scored second places in the 200 free (1:46.04) and the 100 free (48.03). Vetor took third in the 100 free with a time of 48.51.
Wabash divers kept the score close after the one-meter event. Rob Fenoglio scored second-place points for the Little Giants with a total score of 215.50. Cole Hatcher was third with 201.25 points, while Tom Schiltz took fourth (179.15). Fenoglio was second on the three-meter board, as well, with a final score of 215.45. Hatcher finished third (190.75), while Tyler Foster tied the score heading into the final two events with a fourth-place finish on the board with a score of 169.80.
The Little Giants return to action Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at home against the University of Indianapolis.