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Ivy Swimmer of the Meet Rathgeber Paces Crimson with Seven All-Conference Selections
Courtesy: Harvard Athletic Communications
          Release: 03/12/2008

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Senior Geoff Rathgeber of the No. 22 Harvard men's swimming and diving team was honored with the Philip Moriarty Award as the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the Ivy League Championship, as well as the Harold Ulen Award for most career points. Rathgeber picked up seven All-Ivy first-team selections, leading a group of 10 Crimson swimmers that earned All-Ivy League distinction at the meet last weekend at Blodgett Pool.

Harvard (9-0, 8-0 EISL, 7-0 Ivy League) set five pool records during the tournament, six team records, and swam 28 NCAA "B" qualifying times. Rathgeber had NCAA "A" cuts in the 200 IM (1:45.62) and 400 IM (3:47.83). In all, seven Harvard team members earned multiple first-team All-Ivy honors.

The Crimson won 13 events at the meet, finishing with 1,564 points, well ahead of second-place Princeton (1,208.5). Harvard has now won 20 EISL championships.

Rathgeber won the 200 IM, the 400 IM and the 200 breast as an individual swimmer, and captured four relay races, including the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 200 medley and the 400 medley. With the seven victories this year, Rathgeber is now a 21-time Ivy League champion in his career.

Bill Jones was a five-time Ivy champion this season after winning the 100 fly, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay. The junior was also a second-team selection after finishing second in the 200 fly.

Senior Pat Quinn earned four All-Ivy first-team honors as a member of the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 200 medley and 400 medley relay squads. Classmate Sam Wollner had three first-team honors, after winning the 500 freestyle and the 1000 freestyle as an individual. He was also a member of the foursome that claimed the 800 freestyle relay. He also placed second in the 1650 free for second-team honors.

Junior David Guernsey was a member of the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay champions, becoming a three-time All-Ivy pick. He took second in the 100 freestyle, capturing second-team recognition. Eric Lynch, also a junior, won the 1000 freestyle and the 1650 freestyle, and took second in the 500 freestyle.

In his first EISL Championship, freshman Jordan Diekema was a three-time All-Ivy swimmer, winning the 200 backstroke, as well as the 200 medley and 400 medley relay events. He also touched the wall second in the 100 backstroke.

Rookie Justin Davidson took home the 100 breaststroke for All-Ivy first-team accolades. Sophomore Mason Brunnick, who was part of the event-winning 800 free relay squad, and freshman Will Heyburn, a member of the 200 freestyle relay champions, rounded out the All-Ivy first-team selections for the Crimson.