Both your men’s and women’s swim team had an important meet last weekend.
SUNY Oneonta traveled to the Elting Pool for a competition, and although the Red Dragons aren’t a team that New Paltz usually falls to, it was still the last meet before the SUNYAC Tournament.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday the 5th, the meet kicked off with the men’s 200-yard medley relay (an event New Paltz took first place in). Second-year Myles Dower, fourth-year Akiva Garfield and first-years Korey Barber and Steven Macaluso finished 1:42.58 to start the Hawks off with 11 points.
Similarly, the women placed first in the same event, with a finishing time of 1:54.88 to earn 11 points for their team. The winning squad consisted of third-years Delilah Griger and Kelly Donlevy, first-year Alex Kassian and second-year Julia Iaboni.
The men had a very impressive performance next, in the 1000 yard freestyle, where New Paltz took the top three places. First-year Brandon Molina earned nine points with his 10:35.59 finish, followed by third-year Owen Rowlands and first-year Euan Barclay. Oneonta’s three points were nothing compared to the 16 earned during that round for the Hawks.
The New Paltz women earned 11 points in that event whereas the Oneonta women finished with eight.
“It was amazing to have the team take first, second and third, and it was amazing to be a part of it,” Barclay said. “Personally I was super happy with how I swam, seeing as how practice has been tough as we prepare for the SUNYACs. It definitely set a good tone and got us fired up for the rest of the meet.”
The day continued with more Hawk victories. Barber and Griger each pulled in first during the 200-yard freestyle. The men took another first through third victory in the 100-yard breaststroke. The first years continued to hold their own against older and wiser competitors. By the end of the day, the New Paltz win was not surprising.
The women ended with a final score of 158-104, and the men finished with 149-113. A very happy finish for an important meet. Seeing as they will face Oneonta again during the SUNYAC tournament in Buffalo (starting on Wednesday, Feb. 16), beating them now set the tone for the rest of the season.
“The team is ready to do amazing at SUNYACs and crush their goals. Some amazing races can be expected,” Barclay said.
Be sure to support the Hawks as they transition into the end of their season.
“I am a little nervous going in as it’s my first time and the whole season has been leading up to this,” Barclay said. “My season as a whole has been amazing and I’m happy with what I have accomplished and look forward to hitting my goals at SUNYACs.”
