TU falls to PSU: Shrum stresses room to improve

By: Karuga Koinange, Contributing Writer 

Towson men’s and women’s swimming and diving both fell in a season-opening dual meet at Penn State on Oct. 6.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Jake Shrum was proud of the way his young lineup handled their first competitive meet. 

“It was a solid meet,” Shrum said. “We had a lot of freshmen who were experiencing a college dual meet for the first time and it was against world-class competition. They handled themselves wonderfully.”

Shrum was especially impressed with both teams’ support.

“Even though we were losing most events, there was no let down in our energy on the side of the pool or by the student-athletes who were racing, which is what I was most proud of,” Shrum said.

Sophomore Jack Saunderson spearheaded a strong Towson effort, winning the 100-yard (1:50.25) and 200-yard (49.47) butterfly events.

“At the time he swam it, Jack Saunderson’s 200 fly time was the second fastest in the county,” Shrum said.

Sophomore Stefan Keller also had a strong showing, winning the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:08.71.

The Tigers captured an event victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay led by junior Nick Essing, Saunderson, freshman Hunter Wright and sophomore Will Dougherty, who finished with a combined time of 1:27.04.

On the women’s side junior Corrie Morton won the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:35.37.

Towson won the 200-yard freestyle relay as junior Jacy Icard, junior Caitlin Manthe, freshman Annemarie Schnoor and senior Melissa Toy combined for a time of 1:38.10.

Despite some positive signs from both teams, Shrum stressed that there is room for improvement.

“From an improvement standpoint, I know it gave me some ideas on how we can better improve in how we are training,” Shrum said. “So I’m really excited to start putting those things in place.”

The Tigers will host Georgetown University in their home opener on Saturday, Oct. 15. The diving will begin at 10 a.m. at Burdick Pool followed by swimming events at 1 p.m.

“Georgetown has come on very strong over the past couple of years,” Shrum said. “We are going to need to be totally focused on each race to come away with victories.”

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