COLUMBIA, Ky. - The Lindsey Wilson men's swimming team, who is receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 10 poll, opened the 2021 portion of the schedule with a pair of easy Mid-South Conference wins over Martin Methodist (Tenn.) and Campbellsville (Ky.) on Saturday at the Holloway Center Natatorium.
The Blue Raiders downed the RedHawks by a comfortable score of 162-42, while defeating the Tigers by a final of 145-99.
LWC began the day with a top finish in the 400-yard medley relay. Will Thilwind, Tyler Buffel, Chase Hickman, and Tyler King combined to touch the wall in the winning time of 3 minutes and 36.24 seconds.
In the 200-yard freestyle, King and Jordan Hartig corralled the top two spots in the race. King won with his finishing time of 1:49.15, while Hartig touched close behind at 2:01.87.
The Blue Raiders went on to also grab the top two spots in the 100-yard backstroke. Thilwind raced his way to a winning time of 53.12, which was good enough for a provisional standard. James de Goede followed in second place while also earning a provisional standard of 53.78.
Lindsey Wilson continued to dominate the meet by additionally grabbing the top two finishing spots in the 100-yard breaststroke. Buffel garnered the winning time of 1:02.88, with Bryce Rice trailing in second at 1:03.14.
The 200-yard butterfly saw Hickman touch the wall in second place at 2:04.01. Reece Kincaid was right behind with a third place finish of 2:06.05.
LWC controlled the 50-yard freestyle by notching the top three finishing times. King earned another victory on the day by touching in a winning time of 22.17. Jordan Schaffer managed second place at 22.95, while Thilwind finished close behind in third at 23.87.
The top three finishes in the 100-yard freestyle were easily claimed once again by Lindsey Wilson. King won at 48.91, followed by de Goede in second place (49.75) and Hickman in third (50.57).
The Blue Raiders crowned another winner in the 200-yard backstroke, as Thilwind touched the wall with a time of 1:58.37, which earned him a provisional standard.
Buffel managed a second place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke at 2:18.25, falling just on the heels of the winning competitor (2:18.11).
In the 500-yard freestyle, Kincaid easily earned LWC another first place finish with his time of 5:05.29.
Hickman put together a winning time in the 100-yard butterfly, touching the wall at 53.25. Schaffer secured third in the race (59.23), while Connor Barton notched fourth (59.68).
LWC finished strong in the final two events to cap off a successful day in the pool. In the 200-yard individual medley, de Goede earned the top finishing time of 2:01.02. Buffel was third in the race at 2:11.05. Rice, Barton, Hartig, and Joshua Seltz notched a second place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay (8:11.93).
The Lindsey Wilson men's swimming team returns to the pool on Wednesday, Jan. 27 to battle Campbellsville at home. The meet is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. CT.
