The Lions’ swimming and diving squads both improved to 3-0 on the year after posting convincing 169-109 and 182-106 wins, respectively, in their dual meet with New York University on Saturday, Nov. 17.
The men’s squad finished first in 11 individual events and won both of the relay races. The women’s team had 10 swimmers win individual events. Senior Danica Roskos conquered both diving events, breaking her own school record in the 3-meter event and going on to win diver of the week honors for the third time this season.
Junior Ashley Conroy, winner of the 200-meter freestyle, 50-meter freestyle and 200-meter backstroke events, and ultimately winner of Swimmer of the Week honors, credited the team’s conditioning, camaraderie and cheerleading.
“Spirit on the deck was awesome,” Conroy said. “Hearing the cheers of teammates can make you swim the .01 of a second faster to win a race.”
This was a big confidence booster for a team that Conroy said is really starting to come together, and at a crucial time.
“We’re approaching our toughest month of training, which can be really taxing both mentally and physically,” Conroy said. “However, the progression of this team, in the pool or not, is headed in a very positive direction.”
Conroy also credited the team’s dedication to dry-land training in the offseason. The Lions have not only been putting in the extra yardage in the pool this season, but have also been working outside the pool, focusing on weight-training, and plyometric exercises that benefit swimmers finishing a difficult race.
This extra strength benefitted junior William Kasper as he out-touched Jeremiah Crowley in the men’s 100-meter butterfly. Kasper’s photo finish was one of the many Lions’ first place finishes over the Violets.
Other notables include freshman standout James Shangle, who won three individual events and also contributed to the 200-meter medley relay win. Shangle swam the fastest times in the 100-meter breaststroke (57.98), 200-breaststroke (2:09.78) and 200-individual medley (1:59.36). His performance against NYU helped him earn Athlete of the Week honors, adding to his stellar start in his college career that saw him win NJAC Rookie of the Week honors for the third time already.
One of the motto’s Conroy said the swim team embodied was that of “taking it one day at a time.” If the Lions can continue to do that, their ceiling will undoubtedly exceed the limits of the aquatic centers in which they swim.
The College is back from break and has the TCNJ Invitational, scheduled to begin on Friday, Nov. 30 and continue throughout the entirety of the weekend.
