Eight was a magic number for the Wabash swimming and diving team on Wednesday night. The Little Giants defeated the DePauw Tigers 165-135 in the final dual meet of the season to give Wabash a perfect 8-0 record for the eighth time in coach Gail Pebworth's career.
The Little Giants broke three school records and met seven NCAA qualifying times in the meet.
Wabash opened the meet with a win and NCAA qualifying time by the team of R.J. Morgan (Indianapolis, IN/North Central), Jon-Myckle Price (Lucerne, IN/Logansport), Dave Burleigh (Great Falls, MT/Russell) and Dave Kent (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:35.14.
Freshman Nick Collins (Michigantown, IN/Clinton Central) then shattered the Wabash record in the 1000 freestyle with his win. Collins finished in 9:53.93, ahead of the record (10:04.75) set just two weeks earlier by teammate Gary Mineart (Noblesville, IN/Noblesville). Mineart was quicker as well in the event, finishing third with a time of 9:59.66. Collins also took first in the 200 butterfly (1:59.09).
Kent was the next record breaker fot Wabash. The senior had already put his name next the the record for the 50 freestyle at the NCAC Championship Meet with a time of 20.95. Against DePauw, Kent finished in 20.91 to improve his career-best mark and lower his NCAA qualifying time. Kent also beat the NCAA qualifying time in the 100 freestyle with a second-place finish in 46.94, just .01 out of first place.
Price hit the NCAA mark in the 100 breaststroke, taking first place in 58.77, just ahead of teammate Joe McDowell (Elkhart, IN/Elkhart Central) in second place at 59.36. McDowell managed an NCAA time of his own in the 200 breaststroke, taking first place in 2:07.19. McDowell took the top spot in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:57.45, ahead of Price in second place (1:58.84).
Shannon and Morgan took home first-place finishes for the Little Giants as well. Shannon took the top spot in the 200 freestyle (1.44.28) and Morgan tied with fellow Wabash man Ryan Vaughn (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) in the 100 backstroke. Both Little Giants hit the pad with a time of 53.98 to split the first and second-place points.
The final relay of the meet saw the Wabash team of Kent, Burleigh, Morgan, and Shannon finish second with a NCAA qualifying time of 3:07.77 in the 400 freestyle relay.
The Little Giants will prepare for the NCAA Championships to be held March 16-18 at Emory University.