The men's swim team closed its season this weekend with meets against Cornell and Harvard. The team lost to Cornell 135-101 on Saturday and dropped its meet against Harvard Sunday, 158-118.
The losses dropped the Big Green's record to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Ivy League. But the Dartmouth men were not disappointed with the end as they greatly improved upon their 1-11-1 finish last year.
"It was an exciting conclusion to our four years," co-Captain Grier Laughlin '96 said. "Even swimming a powerful team like Harvard, we still had some great swims."
Cornell moved out to an early lead, en route to a 135-101 victory. Jon Kenyon '97 opened the meet with a 1:46.26 win in the 200 yard freestyle. Michael Hooper '99 posted a season best in the 200 yard butterfly, dominating the entire race and winning in 1:54.99. Ben Lannon '96 posted a season best as well, in his 59.96 victory in the 100 yard breaststroke.
Toby Hays '99 continued his dominance on the diving boards with victories on the one meter and three meter boards.
Harvard opened Sunday's meet against the Big Green by taking the 200 yard medley relay. The relay team of Tom Slabaugh '96, Ben Lannon '96, Geoffrey Walford '99 and Kenyon took second with a time of 1:39.29.
Doug Doucet '98 followed up a third place performance in the 200 yard freestyle, finishing in 1:47.31, leaving the Big Green with a 27-9 deficit. But Kenyon and Laughlin moved the team back up with a one-two finish in the 100 yard backstroke. Kenyon took first in 53.09 and Laughlin finished in 54.12.
Lannon tried to keep the streak alive with a season-best 59.71 in the 100 yard breaststroke. Hooper brought Dartmouth surging back in the 200 yard butterfly, winning in 1:55.85, while teammate Walford took third in 1:58.31, to bring Dartmouth within 10 points, 51-41.
Hays dominated the diving boards for the last time this season. Hays won the one meter competition with 274.125 points. He repeated on the three meter with 270.3 points. The performances marked the eighth time this season that Hays swept both diving competitions. Hays' victory left the Big Green down 74-56.
Harvard roared back by taking first, second and third in the 100 yard freestyle. Dartmouth entered only one swimmer in the event, Jonathan Hurst '98 who finished fourth in 53.16.
Laughlin and Kenyon then combined for another one-two finish in the 200 backstroke. This time Laughlin was the victor with a season best 1:54.99, followed by Kenyon in 1:56.66.
But the surge ended as Harvard took first and second in the 200 yard breaststroke. Lannon led Dartmouth, taking third in 2:14.89.
Hooper and Doucet kept the Big Green within striking distance, finishing first and second respectively in the 500 yard freestyle. Hooper's time was an impressive 4:49.19, while Doucet followed closely with 4:50.53.
The Big Green closed the meet with a senior entry in the 200 yard freestyle relay. The senior team, consisting of Laughlin, Lannon, Slabaugh, and David Kramer, turned in a season best effort for the Big Green, taking third in 1:29.90.
"This year was very successful, not only timewise, but also winning meets," co-Captain Laughlin said. "Winning the Columbia meet might have been the high point of my swimming career here."
Next, the Big Green will head to Eastern Intercollegiate Seaboard League Championship at Harvard Feb. 29 to March 2.
