The men's swim team notched victories on both January 20 against Bates (198.5-101.5) and raced January 21 against the University of Maine-Orono in a non-scoring meet.
Coach Brad Burnham calls this mid-season push the "realization phase." After the first phase of "accumulation in the fall of strength, power, endurance and technique," the Polar Bears are now focusing on "what techniques to use, swimming a lot faster, and results now matter," he said.
NESCAC rival Bates was a formidable opponent, but Burnham was confident the "men could handle it if they swam well."
Three Polar Bears won multiple events. Ryan Peabody '14 took the 500- (4:55.52) and 1000-yard freestyle races (10:07.36). Captain Nathan Mecray '12 won the 50 free (21.22) and 100 free (47.47), and Basyl Stuyvesant '13 won the 100 (53.62) and 200 backstroke (1:57.36).
Several more Polar Bears contributed victories: Chris Granata '14 in the 200 butterfly (1:55.64), Zach Perez '12 in the 200 breaststroke (2:18.31), Mac Routh '12 in the 100 butterfly (52.08), and Ryan Kulesza '15 in the 200 IM (1:59.31).
Burnham hoped the "realization phase" would bring much faster, aggressive swimming.
In the meet against the University of Maine, Mecray did just that, breaking his own school records in the 50-yard breaststroke (25.99) and the 100-yard individual medley (53.39).
The Polar Bears will compete in the conference meet next month, and face a slew of NESCAC opponents in the interim, including Wesleyan, Trinity and Colby.
-Compiled by Clare McLaughlin.