ELKHART, Ind. (March 15, 2022) – Sophomore
Jacob Wallace reached the finals in the 50 yard breaststroke, headlining the Mount's postseason run at the National Invitational Championships, sponsored by the CSCAA.
In full, 10 Mountaineers made the journey to Indiana to compete. Along with Wallace, representatives included
Thomas De Xavier,
Griffin Distler,
Austin Dodd,
Jason Fitch,
Peter Jones,
Jonathan Mata,
Ethan Pham,
Nicholas Santorelli and
Valeria Villagran.
Wallace posted a preliminary time of 25.22 second in the 50 breast to place 12
th, then improved to 24.85 to finish 11
th. With 10 swimmers in each level, Wallace captured in the winning time of the "B' group.
Dodd, Fitch and Jones joined Wallace as a quartet for the 400 medley relay, completing the event 15
th with a school record time of 3:19.32. Three of the four – with Mata added – also took 19
th in the 200 medley relay, posting a 1:32.55 effort. As individuals, Dodd led the Mount in the 50 yard butterfly at 23.11 seconds, while adding a 50.85 in the 100 fly. Jones registered the most events of any Mountaineer, competing in the 50 freestyle (21.05), 50 breaststroke (26.48 seconds), and the 100 free (45.72). His 100 free time also set a school record.
Fitch was the Mount's second finalist, reaching the "B" finals in the 100 backstroke. The sophomore logged a 19
th place finish at 50.11 seconds.
Graduate students De Xavier, Mata, Pham and Villagran all competed in their ultimate events as Mount St. Mary's athletes. The women's team representative, Villagran posted a time of 25.96 seconds in the 50 butterfly – a personal best time for the Colorado native. De Xavier finished with a time of 23.23 in the men's 50 fly. Pham was also a 50 fly competitor (23.77), as well as the 100 yard individual medley (54.06) and the 200 yard freestyle relay. Mata finished two spots ahead of Pham in the fly (23.36) to go along with a 24.46 second effort in the 50 backstroke.
Pham's contemporaries in the relay were De Xavier, Distler and Santorelli, finishing with a time of 1:25.38. Distler's personal efforts include the 50 yard breaststroke (26.08), 100 breast (57.37) and the 100 IM (53.24). A freestyle specialist, Santorelli performed in the 200 free (1:40.87) and 500 free (4:36.61).
Tallying 29.5 points as a unit, the men's team placed 26
th in a nationwide field.
