Despite scientific claims to the contrary, it seems Polar Bears can thrive in warm waters.
At least that's what the Bowdoin swim teams showed last weekend during their successful meet in Cambridge, Mass. Amid steep competition from six other teams (NYU, MIT, Colby, Brandeis, Tufts and Wheaton) the Bowdoin's male and female delegations managed to make their collective roar heard.
The standout performance of the weekend came from first year Nathan Mecray's victory in the 100-yard breaststroke. With a blisteringly fast time of 59.85, Mecray blew the competition out of the water to give Bowdoin its only individual event victory. Mecray, for his standout performances at the meet, was also honored with the NESCAC swimmer of the week award.
"His three lifetime bests at the MIT meet were very solid swims, and they earned him the honor on a very busy weekend," said Coach Brad Burnham.
The women's team also put up a strong showing, winning the 200 medley relay. Swimmers Erin McAuliffe '11, Caitlin Callahan '11, Megan Sullivan '11 and Allison Palmer '11 edged out an NYU team on the last leg to take the victory.
"It is a team effort," said Palmer. "I knew when I stepped up on the block that Erin, Caitlin and Meg had given everything they had, and that was the same level of intensity I needed to show them."
Other impressive performances included second place finishes from Palmer (50-yard freestyle), Callahan (100-yard breastroke) and the aforementioned foursome in the 400-yard medley relay.
Additionally, first year Allen Garner took home a third place finish in the 200-yard freestyle.
Nestled in the no-man's time between Saturday morning and afternoon sessions, distance freestylers from all seven teams pilled into the pool to compete in the weekend's longest event, the 1650-yard "mile."
Henry Berghoff '11 put up a strong showing in this event, shaving more than 90 seconds off his personal record.
"I was there mentally," Berghoff said. "I just knew that this was going to be a big swim for me... It was the drop of the meet."
"Everyone is focused on improving daily and that kind of atmosphere can have a big impact on individuals," Burnham said of Berghoff's mile swim.
The swim team now gears up for their winter training camp, which lasts from December 29 to January 19. Senior Blake Wheale '09 said that the upcoming training camp will be important for both teams.
"It's when we see who's going to raise the bar and make this season big," Wheale said.