TOWSON, Md. -- With one meet already completed, the Towson University men's and women's swimming and diving programs return to Baltimore for the programs' second meets of the 2021 season.
The Tigers take on long-time foe Loyola University Maryland Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. meet at Mangione Pool at the Fitness & Aquatics Center. Saturday's meet will be streamed on ESPN+.
Off the Blocks
Another week of action is on deck for the Towson men's and women's swimming teams as the Tigers make the quick trip down Charles Street to continue a long-standing series with Loyola. Just over four miles separate the two programs' respective home pools.
In The National Rankings
Neither Towson's men nor the women are currently mentioned in the CSCAA Coaches' Polls. Loyola was similarly not mentioned in the poll released January 21.
The A-Little-Closer-to-Home Tigers
Both men's and women's teams opened the 2021 season at Lejeune Hall against the United States Naval Academy. The men dropped a 188-100 decision while the women fell 196-81. Tina Coleman took second in the 1-Meter dive (231.98) and third in the 3-meter event (250.06). Towson's A relay for the 400-yard freestyle finished in 3:36.41 (Clark, Schulz, Dichak, Mince). Elise Devlin finished fourth in the 100-yard backstroke (58.69) and was Towson's top finisher in the 200-yard backstroke (2:06.59). On the men's side, Brian Benzing set a school record in his first collegiate meet with a 54.81 in the 100-yard breaststroke. He added a top-10 time in the 200-yard breaststroke as well (2:03.30). Ryan Baldino collected two wins, taking the 50-yard freestyle in 20.51 and the 100-yard freestyle in 45.23, both top-10 times for Towson. Ajani Dorner and Will Canny split the board events, the former winning the 1-meter (292.35) and the latter taking the 3-meter (283.28). Both set top-10 marks on both boards as well.
Scouting Loyola
Saturday's showdown at Mangione Pool at the Fitness & Aquatic Center will be the first outing of the 2020-21 academic year for the Greyhounds. Last spring, the men's side finished third out of 10 at the Patriot League championships, while the women finished sixth out of 10. That event was hosted at Navy's Lejeune Hall. Loyola set four school records in the final day of competition.
Towson-Loyola History
With just four miles between the schools, Towson and Loyola have met A LOT over the years. The women's teams will meet for the 38th time while the men's sides square off for the 47th time. Towson's women lead the all-time series 30-6-1 and are on a 13-meet winning streak since 2002-03. The Towson men's team lead things 35-11 all-time against Loyola, carrying a four-meet run into Saturday.
Towson-Loyola Women By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Towson 30-6-1
at Towson * Towson 4-0
at Loyola * Towson 8-0
at Neutral Sites * Towson 1-0
at Unknown Sites n/a
Last Meeting Jan. 22, 2020
Towson 190, Loyola 99
Streak * Towson +13
* - Since 2002-03 Season
Towson-Loyola Men By the Numbers
All-Time Series Record Towson 35-11
at Towson * Split 2-2
at Loyola * Towson 7-1
at Neutral Sites Loyola 1-0
at Unknown Sites n/a
Last Meeting Jan. 22, 2020
Towson 165, Loyola 128
Streak Towson +4
* - Since 2002-03 Season
How to Say It: TOWSON
TOWSON is pronounced TOW like towel + Son.
IT IS NOT: TOE-son, Townson, Towsond, Townsend, Townsen, Towzen. One N, no Z.
We are Towson University, no longer Towson State University (and haven't been since July 1, 1997).
Our mascot is Doc The Tiger, named after Donald "Doc" Minnegan, long-time soccer coach and athletics department administrator. Towson became the "Tigers" in 1962 after John Schuerholz (yes, the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame General Manager) pushed for the name change from the "Towson College Knights".
Last Time Out vs. Loyola: Women
Towson and Loyola met last season in late January as the Tigers picked up a 190-99 win at Mangione Pool. Meagan Clark (17:17.27) and Karlee Carminati (17:35.78) went 1-2 in the 1,650-yard freestyle event. Elise Devlin won the 100-yard backstroke (58.69). Maddie Mince and Hailey Ritter took second and third in the 50-yard freestyle. Christina Coleman won the 3-meter dive with a score of 254.68. The Tigers dominated the 3-meter board, taking the top four spots behind Coleman (278.40), Fiona McIlmail (252.30), Sarah DiGaetano (245.47) and Ashley Sinicropi (240.89).
Last Time Out vs. Loyola: Men
Last January, the Tiger men edged out Loyola 165-128 at Mangione Pool. Drew Munson won the 1,650-yard freestyle in 16:02.97 and the 500-yard freestyle in 4:41.00. Ryan Bookstein took third in the 500-free (4:44.24). Ryan Baldino won the 200-yard freestyle (1:40.90). Nick McClure took second in the 200-yard butterfly (1:51.37). Ajani Dorner captured the 1-meter dive with a 294.97, while Will Canny took second (262.77). The latter won the 3-meter event (274.58) while the former grabbed second (246.90).
Weekly Honors
Brian Benzing and Ajani Dorner each picked up weekly honors from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) this week.
Benzing was honored as the Men's Swimmer of the Week after setting a school record in the 100-yard breaststroke (54.81) and dropping a top-10 time in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:03.30).
Dorner won the 1-meter diving event at Navy, posting a 292.35 while finishing second on the 3-meter board with a 234.60. Both scores landed in the program's top 10.
With Wins Saturday...
- Towson would pick up its first win of the 2020-21 academic year. Both teams' last wins came over Delaware on Jan. 24, 2020.
- The women would extend their winning streak to 14 since 2002-03 against Loyola, while the men would win their fifth-straight.
