December 2, 2011
Bison Men Terrific in Victory Over Cardinals
December 2, 2011 - The Howard Bison Men's and Women's Swimming team made a quick drive down Michigan Avenue to renew their rivalry with Catholic University of America. With a number of season-best and HU Top-10 swims, the Bison men took down the Cardinals, 145-116. The Bison women notched three first-place victories, but fell to the Lady Cardinals, 141.5-107.5.
The Bison men earned 11 first place swims thanks in large part to their freshmen class. Freshman Benjamin Skelding (Palmdale, CA) commenced the victories with his 1000 freestyle. His time of 10:31.91 was a season-best mark and now sits him fourth all-time in Howard's history for the event. Skelding also improved on his top-10 mark in the 500 freestyle. His winning time of 5:07.90 solidified his place as tenth all-time in school history for the 1000 freestyle.
Dexter Brown (Pearland, TX) had another outstanding meet for the Bison. His first victory of the evening came in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.41. He followed that with a triumphant 200 breaststroke winning time of 2:18.97. Classmate Trent Popovich (Morro Bay, CA) earned his first two victories of the year. In the 200 butterfly, Popovich used a strong final 50 to seize control and win with a time of 2:07.32. Popovich then etched himself into 5th all-time in Bison history with his victorious 400 individual medley time of 4:34.32.
Freshman Miles Hector (Omaha, NE) tallied his seventh victory of the season in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:52.61. Hector also stands 6th all-time in the HU record books with a second-place time of 4:34.42 in the 400 individual medley.
Other victorious Bison included senior Steven Lott and junior Zadok Issacs. Lott (Los Angeles, CA) earned his first victory of the season in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.64. Isaacs (Cantaro Village, Trinidad and Tobago) was a winner on two separate occasions. After just missing victory lane in the 100 backstroke, Isaacs took control early in the 200 backstroke and won with a time of 2:01.08. He quickly followed that feat with another sharp performance in the 100 butterfly. His winning time of 55:05 marked Issacs sixth victory of the season.
The men capped their exceptional evening with a win in the 400 freestyle relay. Sophomore Darell Hungerford (Clinton, MD) combined with Brown, Skelding and Isaacs to swim their 2nd fastest mark of the season, 3:20.82.
On the ladies side, the meet started quite well with an exciting 200 medley relay. Thanks to freshman Briana Dillon (Katy, TX) sophomores Ashley Douglas (Missouri City, TX) and Janai Ederaine (Corona, CA) and junior E'lan Brewer (Lansing, MI,) the Lady Bison outtouched Catholic and won with a time of 1:58.45.
Douglas followed her relay with an impressive 100 backstroke swim. Her victorious time of 1:04.72 was a season-best mark by over one full second. Dillon also earned first place honors in the 50 freestyle with her time of 26.08, her fifth triumph of her rookie season.
The Bison will next be in action tomorrow December 3, 2011. The second home meet of the season has the team welcoming American University across northwest DC to Burr Gymnasium for the 12PM meet.
