#Landmark10: Men's Swimming Top-Moment
#Landmark10: Men's Swimming Top-Moment
Courtesy of Goucher Sports Information
TOWSON, Md. – The 2016-17 season marks the 10 year anniversary for the Landmark Conference. As part of the buildup to each sport's championship season, fans were asked to select their favorite moment from the first decade from a list created by members of the conference. Each winning moment will be announced prior to the conference championship.
In the first round of voting, Goucher's Morgan Richters record breaking performance went up against five other top-moments from the conference and was ranked second with 39 percent of the votes behind Catholic's Caleb Capozella and Joanna Ladas earning Rookie and Swimmer of the Year honors in the same season, who went into the final round with 46 percent of votes.
During the final round, it was Richter's record performance at the 2016 conference championships that won out. The moment received 306 votes, beating Catholic by 101 points. Scranton came in third with 52 votes.
When he exited the Germantown Indoor Swim Center pool on the final day of the 2016 Landmark Conference Men's Swimming & Diving Championships following the 400-yard freestyle relay, perhaps the final competitive race of his collegiate career, Goucher's Morgan Richter's certainly had conference swimmer of the year-type credentials.
Just a short time earlier he had placed first in the 200-yard butterfly, making him a four-time Landmark champion in that event. It was his third conference title during this year's three-day meet and the ninth of his four seasons with the Gophers.
"Very deserving," was head coach Thomas Till's reaction when the official announcement that Richter was indeed the Landmark's Male Swimmer of the Year for 2015-16 was finally made at the conclusion of the three-day meet tonight.
Richter joins Mike Raley as the only two male swimmers in the history of Goucher's swimming program to be named the outstanding swimmer by a conference. Raley was the Outstanding Male Swimmer in the Capital Athletic Conference in 1995-96.
Richter's winning time in the 200 butterfly this evening was 1:49.74, which is a new meet and school record. In addition to it giving the senior a nearly six-second victory over the runner-up, Peter Bajorek from Catholic, his time also provisionally qualifies him to compete at the NCAA Division III Men's Swimming & Diving Championships next month.
"We're thrilled that he made the B-cut," said Till. "That means we keep training and hopefully receive good news (in about three weeks) that he's headed to the national meet."
Morgan Richter handled the opening leg of Goucher's entry in the 400 free relay and was followed, in order, by Rhodes, Coon and his twin brother. The combined time of the four swimmers was 3:11.85, good for fourth place and 30 points for the Gophers.
Release Schedule:
February 16: Men's Swimming | Women's Swimming
February 22: Men's Basketball | Women's Basketball
February 23: Men's Track | Women's Track