Anderson Takes Down Bethel on Senior Day

The Anderson University men's swimming and diving team took down Bethel University (Ind.) on Senior Day with a 124-71 victory on Saturday at Bennett Natatorium.
 
Anderson improved to 3-5 while Bethel fell to 2-8. The Ravens picked up their second win against the Pilots after earning a 131-121 victory in October.
 
"As a team, the men swam exceptionally well," Coach Tanner Barton said. "We went up against Bethel University in October and secured the victory by 10 points.  [Saturday] we capitalized on our home-pool advantage and came away with the victory by 53 points.  The progress we've made throughout the season cannot be ignored."
 
The Ravens fielded a 200-yard medley relay of Alex Cubellis, Josh Ekberg, Kris Keller and Andrew Taflinger, which captured first place with a time of 1 minute, 42.47 seconds. Anderson also put together a 400 freestyle relay of Evan Kropf, Bryce Holt, Taflinger and Noah Scheffer, which claimed first (3:27.79).
 
"The guys did really well," Taflinger said. "We definitely came out and raced fast, so I was very happy."
 
Taflinger locked up first (1:03.32) in the 100 backstroke.
 
"I swam really well. I had better times than our previous meet, so I was very happy."
 
The senior from Terre Haute contributed to an individual wins and two relay wins in the final home meet of his career.
 
"Andrew had a memorable day competing in the Bennett Natatorium for the very last time," Barton stated. "He was a member of both winning relays and won the 100 backstroke.  I am excited to see how Andrew uses this momentum as we prep for the HCAC Championship in February."
 
Scheffer charged to first in the 100 butterfly (53.83). The freshman from Lambertville, Mich. also raced to first (1:53.29) in the 200 freestyle.
 
"Noah had a very impressive day," Barton commented. "This was Noah's most technically sound 100-yard butterfly.  Notching a 53.83 was the fastest dual meet time he has recorded this year."
 
Kropf took first (2:05.54) in the 200 individual medley. The sophomore from Fort Wayne also secured first (49.65) in the 100 freestyle.
 
Ekberg claimed first (1:02.55) in the 100 breaststroke and second (22.92) in the 50 freestyle.
 
Cubellis raced to second (23.88) in the 50 freestyle, Keller claimed second (58.02) in the 100 butterfly and Holt earned second (1:54.93) in the 200 freestyle.

Anthony Stultz put together two PRs, clocking times of 12:17.64 in the 1,000 freestyle and 5:58.64 in the 500 freestyle.
 
The Ravens honored men's senior Taflinger as well as Heather Krapfl and Emma Maubach on the women's side. In the fourth year of the program, Taflinger, Krapfl and Maubach are the first graduating class to spend all four years with the program.
 
"It's really amazing," Taflinger acknowledged. "I'm very proud of myself to be able to say that I helped start this program for future swimmers to come and enjoy."
 
"Today was a special day for our programs as we honored our senior swimmers, Emma Maubach, Heather Krapfl and Andrew Taflinger," Barton commented. "These three were members of the inaugural Anderson University swimming programs and I applaud them for their commitment to this university and to the team."
 
The Ravens battle Manchester University (0-5, 0-2), Olivet College (3-4) and NCAA Division II's Urbana University (2-4) in a quadrangular next Saturday at 1 p.m. in North Manchester.