A total of 17 Loyola school records were broken at this year’s Patriot League Championships, as the men’s swimming and diving team finished third in the conference rankings and the women’s team finished sixth.

Five program records fell on the championship’s first day of action on Wednesday, Feb. 19 in Annapolis, Maryland. The men’s 800 freestyle relay team consisting of Sung Lee ’22, Colin Anderson ’21, Reid Hussey ’22, and Max Verheyen ’23 shaved nine seconds off the old school record.

Both the men’s and women’s teams broke their 200 medley relay records. On the men’s side, the quartet of Lee, Conor Rutigliano ‘21, Jay Venit ’20, and Jimmy Hayburn ’22 swam a 1:29.02, while Elizabeth Walsh ‘22, Devin Cronin ’20, Emily Koegl ’20, and Megan Dickey ’21 swam a 1:41.65 for the women’s team. 

Rutigliano then broke the program’s 50 backstroke record, swimming a time of 23.16. Finally, Lee, Anderson, Hussey, and Verheyen shattered the old school record of 6:42.60 in the 800 freestyle relay with a time of 6:33.83.

On the second day, Hayburn became the second Loyola swimmer to win a gold medal at the Patriot League Championships, taking first place in the 50 freestyle. His time of 19.99 set a school record in the process, one of four more records to fall on the second day.

Verheyen broke the school record in the 200 individual medley, beating his previous time by over two seconds. Both the men’s and women’s teams then set school records in the 400 medley relay.

Cronin became the very first Loyola women’s swimmer to hold Patriot League gold on the third day, setting a school record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.79. Emma Schouten ’21 finished third in the race with a personal best of 1:02.45 to earn a place at the podium as well.

Koegl and Lee each set new program records in the women’s and men’s 100 butterfly races. Lee took the silver medal in his race. Verheyen rounded out the new individual records on the third day, taking bronze in the 400 individual medley with a time of 3:47.91. 

The record on the 200 freestyle relay also fell on the men’s side, with a third place time by Anderson, Hayburn, Hussey, and Lee. 

On Saturday, the fourth and final day, four more records were broken, and more Greyhounds earned medals. The men’s team eventually finished in a team-best third place with 391 total points, while the women’s team placed in sixth with 302 points.

Verheyen was named Male Rookie of the Meet, and head coach Brian Loeffler was voted Male Coach of the Year in the Patriot League. 

Schouten started the day by setting a school record in the 200 breaststroke, finishing in second place. Koegl and Lee then repeated their success from the day before, this time breaking the program record in their respective 200 butterfly races. Hayburn broke the final individual record in the 100 freestyle.

Lastly, the men’s 400 freestyle relay team of Verheyen, Hayburn, Brendon Kolar ’21, and Jonathan Brooks ’22 broke an 11-year old record with a time of 3:00.71.

Navy took first place in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Bucknell took second on the women’s side, while Army finished second for the men. 

The Hounds don’t have much time to rest, as they start the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships on Friday, Feb. 28 in Annapolis, Maryland.

Featured Image Courtesy of Loyola Athletics.