Camel Swimmers Take Home Four All-American Honors At NCAA Division III Nationals

On the campus of Indiana University, in the pool more specifically, a group of men’s Camel swimmers put the team on their back en route to a 20th place finish with 42.5 points amongst all Division III teams.  This finish proved to be the highest finish since 2009, where the men’s team came in 16th overall.
Coach Marc Benvenuti’s squad of swimmers has a lot to live up to now that these athletes have set the standard for Camel swimming. His evaluation of the biggest performances for his team includes a look towards next year’s season.
“Tim’s 100 Back finishing in 7th was a huge performance and scored a lot of points for us, but equally important was Sam Gill’s 100 back performance.  With Tim graduating and Sam swimming within a second of Tim’s time, we found an heir-apparent for next year”
Senior Tim Walsh and sophomore Sam Gill both earned All-American honors.  Walsh swam a time of 49.55 seconds in the 100 yard backstroke, placing seventh overall.  Gill had two honorable mention All-American performances, one in the 100 yard butterfly, where he swam a time of 49.21 for tenth place.  His other event was the 100 yard backstroke, where he swam a 50.05 to tie for 11th place.
In the relays, the Camel men posted honorable mention All American finishes in the 200 and 400 yard medley relays, respectively.  In the 200 yard medley relay, Tim Walsh, Sam Gill, Kirk Czelewicz, and Patrick McGinnis collectively swam a 1:32.68 for 11th place.  In the 400 yard medley relay, the four swam a time of 3:24.79 for a 14th place finish.
Next year’s team will miss Tim Walsh as a major points scorer, as well as many other main contributors to the team.  Coach Benvenuti, however, is optimistic for the future of Connecticut College Men’s Swimming and Diving.
“Next year should be exciting.  We will certainly miss Tim (13x NESCAC Champion, 8x All-American, NESCAC 4 Year High-Point Winner), but also Harry Beauregard and Albert Perley.  Their leadership was incredible this year.  With 10 freshmen on the team and only 9 upperclassmen, leadership was probably the single biggest factor in our team performance this year.  With those 10 freshmen becoming sophomores next year, we should be in a great place for Matt Newton and Chris Pielock to lead the team.  We already have 5 freshmen committed for next year, but are hoping for a few more in the regular decision process.”
Prior to next year’s National competition, CCMSDT has their eyes on a more local prize: the NESCAC Championships.  Coach Benvenuti believes that he will have the depth to catch rival Tufts University.
“To catch Tufts at NESCACs, we will need to be close to or right at the full allotment of 24 swimmers”
With the performances of this year’s team at the National level, Connecticut College Men’s Swimming and Diving is sure to hold momentum for next winter.