Linge ,et, record. ,wlmmer, 2nd Relying heavily on the performances of senior Dale Linge, the Water Buffaloes swam to second place finish in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference February 20. Hendrix College, the host team for 1977, outdistanced Harding by 19 points for the league title. According to head coach Arnold Pylkas, the point spread resulted from Harding failing to qualify two and three swimmers in the 50- and 100-yard races, events in which Harding is traditionally strong. Linge amassed 21 points in the meet to take high point honors. The team's co-captain set a new conference record in the 1000-yard freestyle with an 11 :07.29 timing, a blistering 10 seconds off the old record. Pylkas explained, "When Dale enters the water in a meet, he already has his strategy . . . and his pace worked out in his mind. He can come through any time he is called on to 236 - SWIMMING bring in the points." Linge also finished first in the 200yard butterfly, setting a new school record of 2:13.2 in the qualifying race, second in the 500-yard freestyle, and swam on the third place 400-yard freestyle relay team. Freshman Tim Boyd streaked to a first place timing in the 200-yard breaststroke with 1:29.6. "In the breaststroke event, he is very confident," said Pylkas. "He's a versatile swimmer· - you can use him anywhere you need him." The Water Buffaloes completed the 1976-77 season with an 11-1 conference dual meet record, losing only to Hendrix by a score of 57-56. Overall, Harding went 11-4 for the season, falling only to NCAA schools Southwest Missouri and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, and Texas' Austin College, in addition to the Hendrix loss.
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