The Men’s Swim team enters the SUNYAC Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 21 through Feb. 23 with a 2-5 overall record. They recently placed second out of five teams in the Vassar Sprint Invitational. As a relatively young team, they will use their first and second-year swimmers to place.
Head Coach Scott Whitbeck said this is a rebuilding year for the team and he hopes to compete with Fredonia and Potsdam for a fourth place finish.
Second-year Marton Keri is the No. 2 seed in both breaststroke events, while second-year Jack Spader is seeded third in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 1,650 freestyle.
First-year Rod Taskindoust will compete in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 200 butterfly as he is seeded third, ninth and 12th respectively.
Fourth-year Bryan Farm said the team produced a number of goals that will be carried out during their SUNYAC championships run.
“At the beginning of the season the team produced short and long-term goals, which can be summed up into being the kind of athlete that makes other athletes want to be you,” Farm said. “At championships we will accomplish great performances by keeping physically and mentally tough and by focusing on what needs to get done.”
The Women’s Swim team is undefeated with a 7-0 overall record as they head to the SUNYAC Swimming and Diving Championships.
The Lady Hawks will bring an eclectic mix of experienced swimmers and rookies to the championships, who will look to defeat their rivals, the Geneseo Blue Wave.
Fourth-year Carly Marshall placed first in the 50 breaststroke at the Skidmore Sprint Invitational and is the two-time defending SUNYAC champion in the 200 butterfly. She is looking to defend her title and win new titles as well. She is confident that the Lady Hawks will become SUNYAC champions this season.
“As a team we have a huge standard to live up to,” Marshall said. “We’re all really excited about going into SUNYACs undefeated and the underdog to our rivals, Geneseo Blue Wave. I’m really looking forward to getting in the water and to the wall first with this team.”
Fourth-year Yuka Suzuka is the three-time defending SUNYAC champ in the 100 and 200 backstroke, while first-year Cassidy Griger is ranked third in the 500 freestyle and fourth in both the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
Head Coach Scott Whitbeck wants to improve from the fourth place finish the Lady Hawks accomplished last season.
“It’ll be great competition between us, Geneseo, Cortland and Fredonia,” Whitbeck said. “We have women competing for conference titles in a lot of events, and I hope we have as many lifetime bests as possible to put us in the best position to compete.”