A successful showing in a dual-meet weekend has the College's men's and women's swimming teams prepared for the remainder of the season. The teams traveled to Franklin & Marshall College on Saturday, with each team taking home a win, improving their undefeated records to 4-0. The men's team, led by sophomore Joe Tseng's two individual wins, defeated the Diplomats 121-81, dropping their record to 0-2.
Tseng took first in the 1,000-yard freestyle, finishing in 10:33.15, and in the 100-yard backstroke, where he finished in 54.60. Tseng also took part in the first place 200-yard medley relay team, which included senior Ted Yoa, sophomore Tom Medvecky and freshman Mike Vernoia. The team finished the event in 1:38.71 to open the meet. Medvecky also finished first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.47), while freshman Jesse Taylor placed second in the event (1:50.87).
Rookie Ryan Clarke finished the 200-yard individual medley in 2:00.10 for the first-place finish, and sophomore Shawn Kircher took first in the 50-yard freestyle (22.27) to keep the Lions rolling through the meet. Other highlights included wins by junior Eric Rohrs in the 500-yard freestyle (5:13.72) and senior Tom Nawrot in the 100-yard backstroke (48.34). To seal the victory, the Lions' 200-yard freestyle relay team, consisting of Clarke, Kircher, Medvecky and Nawrot, scored a win, finishing the event in 1:27.38.
The women's team was equally dominant on Saturday, besting Franklin & Marshall by a score of 124.5-80.5, dropping them to 0-2 as well. The Lions began the meet with a 200 medley relay win as the team of freshmen Leah Varvaro, Laura Pierce, Traci Hofer and sophomore Katie Morgan finished in 1:51.96. Morgan finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke as well, completing the event in 1:09.16.
Continuing the winning trend, Hofer took first in the 50-yard freestyle (25.29) and the 100-yard freestyle (56.14). Capturing first, senior Stefanie Rashti completed the 200 freestyle in 2:02.13. Junior Brittany Collyer also finished first in the 200 individual medley in 2:16.78. The Lions finished the meet on top, taking first in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a team comprising junior Ashley Robb, Collyer, Pierce and Varvaro.
Sunday, the men's and women's teams traveled to New Haven, Conn., to take on Division II opponent Southern Connecticut State University. In the men's meet, the Lions clipped the wings of the Owls, defeating them 162-120. Medvecky and junior Myles O'Connor each won two events to lead the College to its fifth win of the season. Medvecky took first in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events (52.43, 1:56.99), while O'Connor bested the competition in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke (57.82, 2:10.54).
Other highlights from the men's meet included a 1,000-yard freestyle victory by sophomore Tim Rauch, who won the event in 10:07.19, and a 3-meter diving event win by freshman TJ Burns, who scored 212.15 in the victory.
"I think the one thing that is driving everyone is the opportunity to become better than we were last year," Medvecky said. "We placed seventh at NCAA's and that got everyone excited. This year we know we are capable of much more."
When asked how the swimmers relate to each other around this time in the season, coach Brian Bishop said, "It's like a domino effect, when one guy steps up and the rest follow."
In a close meet, the women's team suffered their first loss of the season, falling to the D-II Owls, 156-142, dropping to 4-1 on the season. Freshman Traci Hofer recorded three wins for the College, despite the loss. Hofer finished first in the 100 freestyle in 54.64 and was also part of winning 200 and 400 freestyle medley teams for the Lions. Also on the 200 medley team were Varvaro, Morgan and Pierce, while the 400-yard medley team comprising Pierce, Varvaro and freshman Melissa Hessler. Pierce also took first in the 50 freestyle event, finishing in 25.13.
"It is very physically and mentally challenging to swim two big meets back-to-back," Delahanty said. "But I am so proud of each and every one of the girls."
Next up for the Lions is a trip to Bloomsburg University on Nov. 21.
