The College started the new year off strong in men’s swimming and diving, while the women’s team suffered its first loss of the season.
The men’s team came out of their tri-meet with victories over John Hopkins University and West Chester University.
The Lions improved their record to 6-1 after defeating the Blue Jays 183-175 and the Golden Rams 203-167.
Sophomore Mike Vernoia’s three individual wins helped lead the Lions to victory. Vernoia won the 100-yard freestyle event (47.46) the 200-yard free (1:41.53), and the 500-yard free (4:43.31).
The sophomore also contributed to the Lions’ first-place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay. Vernoia added to the combined efforts of junior Pete Goldsmith, junior Tom Medvecky and sophomore Ryan Clark to achieve the winning time of 7:00.88.
Medvecky continued his success by winning two individual events. Medvecky came out on top in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard fly with the respectable times of 51.70 and 1:56.03.
Sophomore TJ Burns was the most productive of the Lions divers—finishing second in the 1-meter event and second in the three-meter event.
Unfortunately, the women’s team did not achieve the same level of success in their meet against C.W. Post. The Lions dropped to 5-1 on the season after falling to the Pioneers by a score of 137-122.
Despite seeing her team suffer its first setback of the season, junior Margaret Molloy put forth a strong effort by winning two individual events. Molloy came out victorious in the 1000-yard freestyle and the 500-yard free with times of 11:20.49 and 5:15.78.
The Lions also had success in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of senior Ashley Robb, freshman Kayleigh Shangle, sophomore Traci Hofer and sophomore Laura Pierce continued their dominance by winning the race in 1:39.27.
The men’s team will look to stay hot when they go to New York University on Jan. 23rd, while the women’s team will look to bounce back against the Violets on the same day.
