After a successful first day at the Erie Cup, the Gannon University men’s swimming team held on to its lead through the second day and earned its second first-place finish this season.
On Friday, the Knights drove down to Meadville for the Erie Cup hosted by Allegheny College for a tri-meet that also involved Allegheny and Edinboro.
Day one proved to be successful for Gannon as the Knights scored 224 points. Allegheny was in second with 192 points and Edinboro was in third with 181.
Individually, three freshmen recorded PSAC qualifying times. Thomas Marshall had a qualifying time in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5 minutes, 5.06 seconds.
Jason Fox also had a qualifying time in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:05.75. Lastly, Eric Booth recorded a 2:03.65 in the 200 IM, qualifying him for PSACs.
The Knights led the pack after the first day and kept up the momentum to hold their position during Saturday’s session, which proved to be just as successful as Friday’s.
Gannon finished first with a total score of 654 points over the two days. Allegheny came in second at 574 and Edinboro placed third, just six points shy of Allegheny with 541 points.
Nine Knights had PSAC qualifying times, one of whom was Booth in the 400 IM with a time of 4:26.50 for his second qualifying time of the meet.
Gannon also posted three first-place finishes. Junior Cole Davis won two individual events while also qualifying for PSACs in the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.47 and the 200 butterfly, which he swam in 2:00.45.
Sophomore Allan Collins also placed first while shattering the 2:05.20 PSAC qualifying time necessary in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:00.94.
This marks the men’s team’s second win of the season after their season-opening win.
Booth is excited for the season and already sees improvements.
“I am still adjusting to new practices but I think by the time February comes around for PSACs I’ll be more than ready,” Booth said.
Up next, the men will head to Grove City for a tri-meet against Case Western Reserve and Grove City starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.
BRANDON JACES
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