BOILING SPRINGS – Hitting the water for their 2022-23 season debuts this weekend, the Gardner-Webb men's and women's swimming teams opened their new campaigns in dominant fashion as both Runnin' Bulldog squads cruised to big victories over VMI on Saturday from Bost Pool in Boiling Springs.
 
Gardner-Webb combined to win 27 of 28 total events on the afternoon in what was almost a clean sweep of the Keydets. The men nearly quadrupled VMI in total points, registering a strong 209-53 victory in the first action of the season, while the women's team matched that effort with a commanding performance of its own.
 
In all, the Runnin' Bulldogs combined to sweep the top three podium finishes in 19 events – all but nine races – helping to showcase the impressive speed in the pool for GWU to open the year.
 
Brady Fields and Logan Cornelison led the way for Gardner-Webb, touching first in four events apiece. Fields won the 50-yard freestyle (20.96) and the 100-yard butterfly (50.35), while Cornelison won the 100-yard (46.68) and 200-yard freestyles (1:43.15). Both Fields and Cornelison contributed to first place efforts in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:27.75) and 200-yard medley relay (1:32.23).
 
John Cass, who was also part of both winning relays, claimed the top spot in the individual 200-yard butterfly (1:57.57).
 
Alyssa Church touched first in the 50-yard freestyle (24.93) and contributed to winning times in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:41.11) and 200-yard medley relay (1:49.23).
 
Sara-Michael Jann, Hailey Williams, Hannah Routh, Landon Clark, Anna Yeater, Kayla Smith and Austin Wheeler also each won two events apiece for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
 
Gardner-Webb is next in action Friday, October 21, as it welcomes Campbell to the friendly home confines of Bost Pool. Meet time is slated for 5 p.m. in Boiling Springs.