Rowan Men’s Swimming earned a third-place finish out of the nine participating teams at the Franklin & Marshall Invitational in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from Nov. 21-23.

The team had some highlight moments during the three-day event, with Junior Braden Sheehan earning two first-place finishes in the 200 free and 200 IM to lead the way. Junior Gavin Danze added a first-place finish of his own in the 1650 free with a 16:02.41. 

“I’m really happy with it. That’s about almost exactly the time I wanted to go,” Danze said. “There’s a couple of things in the race I think I could’ve improved on, but I think it leaves me about fifth in the NJAC. There’s a lot of stuff I can work on between now and the NJAC. I’m in a really good spot, but I think there’s a lot of room to improve.”

Sophomore Julian Huynh finished third during the 1650 free, and would team up with Sheehan, Joshua Oliveira, and Drew Westhoven to take second in the 800 free relay with a 6:53.90. 

Huynh is a part of a long list of underclassmen who have been taking big strides for the team, and the team’s improvement really shows during high-profile events like the Franklin & Marshall Invitational. 

“I think I swam really well,” Huynh said. “I think I had a really good 200 free split in our relay. I think the whole team swam really well, and I’m excited to see where we go from there.” 

Other highlights from the weekend include Sophomore Michael O’Leary’s second-place finish in the 400 IM, Danze and Huynh finishing second and third, respectively, in the 500 free, and Sheehan, Oliveira, James Bygott, and T.J. Moderski finishing second in the 400 medley. 

Head coach Brad Bowser felt the team as a whole did well, and that the freshmen, especially, are trending up and will be a group to keep an eye out for this season and beyond.

“Just the freshman in general,” Bowser said. “We have very promising freshmen that are going to help this program reach the next level.

Up next for the Profs is a home meet against Swarthmore College at Tony Lisa Natatorium on Friday, Dec. 5. Swarthmore was one of the participants in the Franklin & Marshall Invitational and will be another tough opponent in the Profs’ already demanding schedule. 

“It’s gonna be a tight meet, but I think we have a real shot to win this,” Huynh said. “I think we just have to put our heads down, lock in, and just get it done.”

One of the differences this meet will have will be a ‘Skins’ race. A fun, yet challenging sprint event where four swimmers from each team compete, with the slowest times being eliminated each round until there are two swimmers left standing. 

“It’s a different format than we usually do. It’s a lot more fun, I think, than what we usually do, so I’m looking forward to it. It should be a good time,” Danze said.