Wilkes men’s swimming pulls it together for a winning streak

     While Jose Tabora and the Colonel football program made history south of the Mason-Dixon line, the Wilkes men’s swimming team achieved a feat of its own. For the first time in program history, the team is on a winning streak.

     In the waters of the Wilkes-Barre Catholic Youth Center, the Colonels took down Lebanon Valley College 112-91 in Middle Atlantic Conference action.

Their third victory in a row puts the Colonels at 3-2, with a 2-1 record in Middle Atlantic Conference meets. Wilkes has also surpassed win totals for the first two seasons combined.

     Chris Bright, Nick Walker, Thurman Fogleman and Matthew Nevers officially sealed the deal for the Colonels against the Flying Dutchmen when they placed 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, respectively, in the 20th event of the afternoon, the 100 yard breaststroke.

     Tyler Weatherby, Anthony Stampone, Jacob Parfianowicz and Dominic Parfianowicz teamed up to win the 200 yard freestyle relay in 1:33.96.

     The Colonels also scored another victory when Thomas Burner, Bright, Phillip Bennett and Scott Hefflefinger were the first to touch the wall in the 200 yard medley relay. They finished their race in 1:56.57.

     D. and J. Parfianowicz, recently featured in The Beacon, posted other big wins as well. J. Parfianowicz also scored a win in the 100 yard freestyle in 54.06 seconds, while also taking second in the 200 yard freestyle in 2:06.45. D. Parfianowicz won the 50 yard freestyle in a crisp 23.40 seconds, and also finished as runner-up in the 100 yard backstroke in 1:00.10

     Weatherby also posted a victory in the 1000 yard freestyle with a 11:21.51 performance.

Both the men and women’s teams still have plenty of action left. They will return to the Wilkes-Barre CYC on Nov. 19 and 20, but rather crosstown rival King’s College will play host in the Diamond Invitational.

     Both teams also have a long road ahead before the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships in York, Pa., in March.