Huskies Compete in Rough Water Swim

FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH, FL--Some members of the Bloomsburg University men's and women's swim teams competed in the 39th Annual International Swimming Hall of Fame - Rough Water Swim, off Fort Lauderdale Beach in early January. A total of 405 swimmers competed in four different distances: 5K, 1 Mile, 1/2 Mile and 1/4 Mile. Competitors were mostly collegiate swimmers who were in town for winter training.

Steve Withers, Joe Bentz, and Dave Mancinelli joined Miranda Steel and Emily Stiles in the toughest race of the four: the 5K (3.1 mile). Ocean conditions were clear with 2-3 foot surf and included many Portuguese Man of War jellyfish. On the men's side, Withers finished seventh overall followed by Bentz in 13th and Mancinelli 24th. For the women, Stiles finished 9th and Steel 11th.

In the 1-mile race, 19 Huskies hit the water. For the women, Brittany McNeil, Sarah Grawe, Ashley Carroll, Lisa Ferrigno, Brianne Globig, Britnie Spaunhorst, Katie Leibig, Laura Punda, Laura McNair, Nicole Chinicci and Michelle Wesh went into the water. Globig emerged with the highest finish, taking fourth place among freshman women. The men were led by John King, Tyler DeLorenzo, Erik Stefferud, Tim Dorsch, Zach Wilson, Cullen Mentzell, and Tom Chlebda. King was the overall winner in the sophomore category, while Stefferud was third in the freshman category.

The race was emceed by two legends from the world of swimming: former Olympic Champion and current NBC Olympic Broadcaster, Rowdy Gaines, and 2008 Olympic Champion, Brendan Hansen. Following the race, several members of the BU team were able to talk to Gaines and Hansen while posing for pictures.

International Swimming Hall of Fame - 39th Annual Rough Water Swim

RESULTS