By Bill Arsenault

For Times Leader

Ursinus swimmer and Dallas graduate Marcus Wagner was named Centennial Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Week.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_Wagner-Swim.jpg.optimal.jpgUrsinus swimmer and Dallas graduate Marcus Wagner was named Centennial Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Week.

It didn’t take Marcus Wagner long to get back into the swing of things with the Ursinus men’s swim team.

Wagner and the Bears returned from their winter training trip in Florida and went out and defeated Cabrini 127-67 on Jan. 16 and the next day turned back Albright 117-88. The Dallas High grad’s performance in the two meets earned him Centennial Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Week honors.

Against Cabrini, Wagner easily captured the 200 freestyle, his 1:47.65 time was more than five seconds faster than the runner-up. He later swam a leg on a 400 free relay team that finished a close second. Against Albright, he captured the 1,650 freestyle (16:57.66) and took the 500 free (4:55.49).

“The Centennial honor was well-deserved,” coach Mark Feindberg said. “Off the plane only 14 hours from out 10-day training trip, he had a big win in the 200 free. Then, he turned around and set an Albright pool record in the mile (1,650 free) and then, 40 minutes later won a tough 500 in an event we really needed to win.”

The coach feels that Wagner is set up to have a terrific Centennial meet (Feb. 19-21 in Gettysburg).

“Marcus continues to be our strongest swimmer,” Feinberg said. “He will be seeded in the top three in his two best events (the 500 and 1,650 free) and will contend for the top eight in the 200 free.”

Wagner will also anchor the 800 free relay and be part of at least one other relay squad.

Ursinus hosts Washington College Saturday in Collegeville.

Sutton sparkles in opener

The Shippensburg men’s track team competed in Bucknell’s Guilden Invitational last Saturday in Lewisburg and junior Kieran Sutton kicked off the indoor season in fine style.

The Lake-Lehman grad captured the mile in 4:18.05, his best time as a collegian. He finished in front of four Division I runners from Bucknell and Duquesne and posted the second fastest time on the PSAC performance list this winter.

“Kieran ran extremely well and it was a great start to the indoor season,” coach Dave Osanitsch said. “He transitioned smoothly from an exceptional cross country campaign.”

And, the mile isn’t an event he’s shooting at when the PSAC Championships are held Feb. 27-28 in Edinboro.

“Kieran will anchor the distance medley relay this weekend (the National Invitational at Penn State),” Osanitsch said. “He has high hopes in both that event and individually in the 3K. He is a vital member of our distance squad.”

An honor for Colley

Widener junior Josh Colley was named the Middle Atlantic Conference Men’s Field Athlete of the Week (Jan. 18) for his performance in the Great Dane Classic the previous Saturday at the Ocean Breeze Complex in Staten Island.

The Tunkhannock grad finished seventh in the long jump (22-5) and seventh in the triple jump (46-2 ½). He was the top Division III finisher in both events and both efforts were enough to qualify him for the MAC and ECAC Division III Championships.

“Josh continues to work on his runway and takeoff positions in hopes of cashing in when it counts at the end of February through March,” coach Vince Touey said.

The coach doesn’t mind putting his athletes up against Division I and II competition.

“The culture of our team is not look at the division of any of the competitors,” Touey said. “We do believe that there are certain meets that will provide great competition and we want to be there when they start calling names.”

Colley did a little running in the Collegeville Classic last Saturday posting a time of 7.51 in the 60-meter dash (20th) and 24.54 in the 200-meter dash (27th).

Ellsworth helping Falcons

Lydia Ellsworth competes in the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 100 freestyle for the Messiah women’s swimming team. The Wyoming Valley West grad also swims with the various relays teams for the Falcons.

“Lydia has been working hard in the pool and in school,” coach Nancy Luley said. “We have made some changes to her stroke which should improve her times as the conference championships draw near.”

Messiah will compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships Feb. 11-14 in York.

“Lydia’s post graduate plans are falling into place as well,” Luley said. “She just received admission to one of her postgraduate choices.”

Honor for Edkins

Matthew Edkins was named Liberty League Rookie of the Week after the St. Lawrence freshman diver shattered a 29-year-old pool record in a non-league dual meet against SUNY-Potsdam Jan. 16 in Canton, N.Y. The Lake-Lehman grad posted a winning score of 303.97 in the 1-meter dive to shatter the previous mark of 288.00 set back in 1987. He also took the 3-meter title with 325.50 points. Despite his efforts, the Saints dropped a 138-135 decision.

“Matt has been phenomenal this year,” coach Bob Clemmer said. “He was runner-up for Liberty Diver of the Year at the league championships in December where he won the 1-meter and was a close second in the 3-meter.”

As far as Clemmer is concerned, this is just the tip of the iceberg for Edkins.

“I believe Matt has the talent and desire to continue to evolve into not only an NCAA qualifier, but will leave St. Lawrence as an All-American,” the coach said. “He has a fantastic work ethic which has helped him to add a more difficult and aggressive lists of dives.”

A big day for Krasavage

Redshirt sophomore Kyle Krasavage posted three solid victories for the Hofstra wrestling team at the Hofstra Duals last Sunday in Hempstead, N.Y.

The Wyoming Valley West grad not only won all three of his matches at 149 pounds, but did it in impressive style – a pin in 5:36 in a 40-8 victory over Sacred Heart, a pin in 4:08 in a 25-21 triumph over Clarion and a 12-2 major decision in a 22-14 loss to Columbia.

The effort lifted Krasavage’s record to 10-4 on the season.

The Pride is off until Saturday, Feb. 6 when they compete in the Edinboro Open.

Hislop, Ravens on a roll

The Rosemont women’s basketball team have won five straight games after a slow start and keying the Ravens is senior co-captain Carly Hislop.

The Crestwood grad has scored 64 points during the winning streak including 16 in a 63-44 victory over Cairn and 15 in a 75-57 triumph over Bryn Mawr. The 5-foot-10 center is averaging 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds a game and has 23 assists.

The Ravens, now 8-9 overall and 4-4 in Colonial States Athletic Conference play, are shooting for six straight when they host Keystone in a league game Wednesday night in La Plume.

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