Shreveport – The Centenary men's and women's swimming teams opened their home season on Saturday with a dual meet versus the McMurry University War Hawks at the FIT.
The Gents lost 168-69 while the Ladies recorded a 151-86 victory. Centenary was competing at home for the first time in nearly two years and still has three home meets remaining this season.
Centenary opened its season on Oct. 22-23 in a two-day, double dual meet versus fellow Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference members, Southwestern University and Colorado College in Georgetown, Texas. The Maroon and White turned in an impressive overall performance as the men and women combined to record 13 top-five individual finishes and six team top-five finishes during the weekend.
The Gents registered four individual wins on Saturday and a pair of runner-up finishes as well as two second-place finishes in team relays. Senior Mitchell Lulich (New Orleans, La.) and sophomore Tony Barbee (Plaquemine, La.) each claimed a pair of individual wins as Lulich won the 200 IM with a time of 2:12.62 and swam a winning time of 2:25.04 in the 200 breast. Lulich was part of a pair teams that claimed runner-up finishes in the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay.
Barbee won the 100 fly in a season-best time of 57.53 and also claimed a win in the 200 fly as he swam a time of 2:08.72. He was also part of the two Gents' relay teams that placed second on Saturday and has recorded six top-12 individual finishes so far this season. Senior Tripp Montgomery (New Iberia, La.) earned a runner-up finish in the 100 breast with a time of 1:07.18 and was also second in the 200 breast, swimming a time of 2:29.18. Montgomery also teamed with Lulich, Barbee, and freshman Cash Coats (Andrews, Texas) for second-place finishes in both the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay.
Coats placed second in the 100 free with a season-best time of 55.10 and finished fourth in the 100 breast, swimming a time of 1:10.02. Jules Reny, another newcomer, claimed a pair of top-five finishes as he finished third in the 1000 free (12:31.18) and fourth in the 500 free (6:03.69). Both of Reny's times were season bests.
Sophomore Aiden Peterkin (Zachary, La.) placed third in the 200 free (2:00.65) and fourth in the 50 free (25.44). His time in the 200 free was his fastest this season. Freshman Nathaniel Batiste finished fifth in the 50 free (25.90) and sixth in the 100 breast with a season-best time of 1:11.67.
The Gents will face Hendrix in their next meet on Saturday, Nov. 13 on Homecoming weekend for a dual meet scheduled for 1 p.m.See the Gents' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/mswim/2021-22/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information is now available via www.GoCentenary.com.
#GoCentenary #CTheOpportunity
