M. Swimming Coasts to Easy First Victory

The Harvard men’s swimming and diving team opened its season in dominant fashion with a 216-82 victory over Columbia and individual victories in 14 of 17 events.

Co-captain Dan Shevchik and juniors John Cole, James Lawler and Rassan Grant paved the way for the Crimson with their multiple victory performances.

“It’s great that they won all their races,” said sophomore Andrew Krna. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Shevchik dominated the backstroke events and the 200-yard individual medley.

He and freshman David Cromwell finished 1-2 in both the 100- and the 200-yard backstroke events.

“If I’m going to lose to someone, I’d like it to be someone on my team,” Cromwell said. “And I wouldn’t mind if it was Dan.”

In the 200-yard I.M., Shevchik captured first in a time of 1:53.37.

The All-American Cole destroyed the field in both the 500- and 1000-yard events, as expected.

In the 500-free, Cole finished in 4:34.89 and led a Crimson sweep of the top three positions.

In the 1000-yard free, Cole led a 1-2-3 Harvard finish, touching the wall in a mere 9:11.18. Senior Andrew McConnell took second more than 18 seconds later and freshman Billy Gray took third in 9:37.80.

Lawler turned in stellar performances by winning both the 100 and 200-yard butterfly and the 200 freestyle.

Grant led the way in the breaststroke events, winning both the 100- and 200- yard events.

Despite their domination of the Lions, the Crimson was not entirely satisfied with their performance.

“Just because we win, doesn’t mean we swam the way we want,” Cromwell said. “[Our times] were a lot higher than we expected. People were really tired, trying to swim through sickness and injury.”

In order for the team to do as well next time out, the Crimson will need to be in top form when the squad returns to the water Dec. 5 at Texas.

M. SWIMMING 216, COLUMBIA 82

(all distances in yards)

200 Medley Relay: 1. Harvard B 1:32:93 (Cromwell, Grant, Drake, Krna), 2. Harvard A 1:34.92 (Shevchik, Gentilucci, Smith, Burns). 1000 Freestyle: 1. Cole 9:11.18, 2. McConnell 9:29.62, 3. Gray 9:37.80. 200 Freestyle: 1. Lawler 1:42.49, 3. Knepley 1:44.39. 100 Backstroke: 1. Shevchik 51.39, 2. Cromwell 52.12. 100 Breaststroke: 1. Grant 57.72, 2. Lin 58.62, 3. Gentilucci 58.84. 200 Butterfly: 1. Lawler 1:51.88, 2. Smith 1:53.69, 3. Dewey 1:55.35. 50 Freestyle: 2. Krna 21.37, 3. Knepley 21.64. One-Meter Diving: 1. Rybalko 304.64, 2. Roy 274.72. 100 Freestyle: 2. Knepley 46.84, 3. Lawler 46.99. 200 Backstroke: 1. Shevchik 1:50.15, 2. Cromwell 1:53.45. 200 Breaststroke: 1. Grant 2:05.60, 2. Gentilucci 2:06.77, 3. Siroky 2:10.41. 500 Freestyle: 1. Cole 4:34.89, 2. Gray 4:44.65, 3. Hastrup 4:45.53. 100 Butterfly: 1. Lawler 50.43, 2. Drake 50.93, 3. Smith 50.99. Three-Meter Diving: 1. Roy 316.20, 3. Rybalko 300.45. 200 IM: 1. Shevchik 1:53.37, 2. Gentilucci 1:56.51.