GEORGETOWN, Texas – The 20th-ranked Tiger men's swimming & diving team finished with 13 gold medals on its way to a dominating 196-90 win at Southwestern University on Saturday afternoon.

In addition to the 13 event victories, Trinity also piled up 16 additional silver and bronze medals in the dual meet. Five different individuals picked up two wins each, while two more Tigers added individual wins. Trinity also swept the top spot in both relay events.

Konstantine Partalas (San Antonio, Texas / Reagan) was the double-winner in diving on Saturday, taking the 1-meter event with a score of 291.10 points and winning the 3-meter board with a score of 288.55 points. Max Rolla-Mullis (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer) was the runner-up in both the 1-meter (240.75) and 3-meter (243.55) contests.

Trinity opened the meet with a 200 medley relay winning time of 1:35.52, featuring Michael Kohl (Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point), Kendal Southwell (Rio Rancho, N.M. / Calvert Online Academy), Trace Briones (San Antonio, Texas / Health Careers), and Nathaniel Early (Austin, Texas / Westwood). Kohl, Early, and Briones also closed the meet as part of the winning 200 free relay team that also featured Nathan Perez (Alpharetta, Ga. / Johns Creek), finishing in 1:27.72.

Kohl also picked up individual wins in the 100 and 200 freestyle races, finishing in 47.60 seconds and 1:44.54, respectively. Southwell swept the breaststroke events, finishing the 100 in 1:00.14 before taking the top spot in the 200 with a time of 2:11.65. Daniel Itkins (Houston, Texas / The Village School) won both backstroke events, notching a time of 54.89 seconds in the 100 and 1:58.29 in the 200. William Walker (Houston, Texas / Westside) was also doubled up in the butterfly competitions. He won the 200 fly in 1:58.46 before finishing the sweep with a time of 52.59 to win the 100 fly.

Perez won the 500 free in 4:55.45 and was also the runner-up in the 200 free (1:48.58) behind Kohl. John Key (El Paso, Texas / Franklin) scored his individual win in the final individual swim of the day, winning the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:58.09. Key was also the runner-up to Southwell in the 200 breast (2:14.46) and finished third in the 100 breast (1:00.98).
In addition to his part in both relay victories, Briones also was the runner-up in both the 50 and 100 free races. He was Trinity's top finisher in the 50 with a time of 22.27 seconds, then came back with a time of 49.12 in the 100 to trail only his teammate Kohl.

Double-winners Itkins and Walker were joined by Chase Hays (Austin, Texas / Anderson) and Caleb Manifold (Helotes, Texas / Homeschool) as the second-place 200 free relay team that finished just a second behind their teammates in 1:28.71. Hays also hada  bronze medal behind Kohl and Briones in the 100 free (49.13). Walker and Manifold were also on the 200 medley relay team that finished third with a time of 1:39.94. Joining the duo were Owen Flynn (Guthrie, Okla. / Heritage Hall) and Ryan O'Leary (Austin, Texas / Austin). O'Leary was also a third-place finisher behind Southwell and Key in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.71), prior to earning second place behind Key in the 200 IM (2:02.11).

John Fontenot (Austin, Texas / St. Andrew's) picked up a pair of medals in the 100 backstroke and the 100 butterfly. He finished the 100 back in 56.64 seconds to take third place, then finished second in the 100 fly with a time of 55.62 that only trailed Walker's top time. William Kitto IV (Prairieville, La. / Catholic High School) and William Sikes (Pittsboro, N.C. / Woods Charter) also nabbed bronze medals in today's action. Kitto was third in the 50 free with a time of 22.93 seconds, while Sikes finished third in the 200 back in 2:02.73.

Coach Speak

"Despite a challenging aerobic week of training, the guys showed some grit today" revealed Head Coach Cathleen Pruden. "We saw a handful of dual meet best performances, and some smart swimming when it came to making adjustments. Next week we will face another challenge at UIW, and then will be ready to rest for SCAC Championships."

Up Next

Trinity will compete in its third full meet this month, traveling to nearby Division I University of the Incarnate Word on Saturday, January 27.