The Men’s Swimming team finished third out of four teams with 507 points following the second and final day of the NYU Invitational on Saturday in Manhattan.
The Hawks concluded day one at the invitational Friday night in Manhattan ranked third out of four teams with 160 points.
The relay team of third-year Will Koenig, third-year Rod Taskindoust, first-year Caleb Treadwell and third-year co-Captain Ryan Lindgren finished in third place with a time of 1:28.98 in the 200 freestyle relay to begin the meet. Koenig later followed that up with a sixth place finish in the 50 freestyle (22.35). Fourth-year co-Captain Jack Spader took ninth in the 500 freestyle (5:03.31), while first-year Marc Piliero was the Hawks top finisher in the 200 individual medley (22nd, 2:09.19).
The 400 medley relay team of Piliero, Lindgren, third-year co-Captain Ethan Cooke and Taskindoust finished the evening with a fourth-place time of 3:46.62.
The following day, Spader recorded the top Hawk performance of the day fifth in the 1,650 freestyle (17:27.00). Koenig and Taskindoust took ninth in the 100 freestyle (49.71) and the 200 freestyle (1:52.00), respectively. The 200 medley relay quartet consisting of Piliero, Lindgren, Treadwell and Koenig combined for a third-place time of 1:42.65.
Head Coach Scott Whitbeck said the team wanted to go out and face some of the best swimmers in the country, to get a sense and a gage to where they are as a program. They also wanted to make sure they were racing against the best competition that is out there, Whitbeck said.
“Compared to one year ago, we are head and shoulders better than last year,” he said. “I think that’s important to see where we are. Overall, if you were to look up and down the results comparing it to a year ago, I think in three out of the five relays, our ‘B’ relay this year beat what would have been our ‘A’ relay last year. Our depth and talent is much improved and that’s nice.”
Lindgren said he is very confident the team will go out and surprise a lot of people.
“I’m very confident that we are going to go out there this year and surprise a lot of people and have one of the best seasons this program has seen in a long time,” he said. “And it’s only going to get better from there.”
The Hawks next compete in their first dual meet of the season when they visit SUNY Oswego on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.
Whitbeck said the team has had a very focused, motivated and all-around great attitude. He said the leadership in their three captains have really helped and solidified the team and he thinks it will be something that is going to make a big difference over the course of the season.
“I think we have every possibility of going out there and winning and doing very well on Saturday,” he said. “We’re also very young and have a lot of stuff to learn and have a lot of room to develop, which is a good thing to have. Hopefully we don’t make too many rookie mistakes as we go through the season. I’m pleased with where we are. This may be the most fun I’ve had coaching a men’s team in my seven years. I’ve really enjoyed this team so far.”
Cooke said everyone on the team has something to be proud of at this point in the season.
“We are 100 percent ready to travel to Oswego this weekend and collect sweet revenge for last year’s loss on the men’s side,” he said. “This year is the start of a dynasty. You’ll be hearing a lot more from us, I can guarantee it.”
