By Jordan Parry, ASU Media Relations Student Assistant
SEATTLE, Wash. – Less than 24 hours after associate head coach Greg Earhart said his team performed selfishly in the pool, the Arizona State men’s swim team (2-2) was back in the action, this time working together, while also breaking records Saturday afternoon in Seattle. Competing against Seattle University for the second consecutive day, the Devils earned a 124-76 victory for their second win in as many days.
“We swam much better this morning,” Earhart said. “Technically we had lots of mistakes, but tactically we raced much more effectively.”
Breaking the Connolly Center Pool record in the 200 medley relay was ASU’s team consisting of sophomores Thomaz Martins and Tadas Duskinas, junior Thibaut Capitaine, and freshman Patrick Park (1:32.01). They broke the previous record of 1:33.41 as they finished almost four seconds ahead of second-place.
In doing so, the ASU men’s relay teams improved to 6-6 this year on relays. Later, that mark improved to 7-7 after also winning the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:24.51).
Additionally, sophomore Barkley Perry broke the Connolly Center Pool record in the 200-yard freestyle (1:40.18), breaking the previous record of 1:40.41.
Despite the record-breaking performances, Earhart saw a team perform as exactly that—a team—not as individuals chasing records.
“Today we had guys doing things for the team, not for themselves, times, or records,” Earhart said.
One swimmer who exemplified that Saturday was sophomore Brandon Mills in the 1000-yard freestyle. Mills, who specializes in the breaststroke and IM, still managed a third-place finish (10:10.17) in the long-distance event, impressing his coaching staff and teammates in doing so.
“Brandon is definitely not a distance swimmer,” Earhart said. “But when we asked him to step up, he did, and took advantage of an opportunity.”
Meanwhile, in the same event, freshman Juhan Hong (9:44.00) took first for the second-straight day.
“We’re leaving Seattle as a better team than when we arrived,” Earhart proclaimed. “What I’m most excited about is how much more we can still improve.”
Next up for @ASUSwimDive is a trip to Southern California for both men and women’s dual meets against USC on Nov. 14.