On Saturday, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams dominated Teagle Pool, defeating Colgate. The men’s team (4-3, 2-3 EISL) put up a 151-129 victory, while the women posted a 151-140 mark. Both teams controlled the water, each going to exhibition scoring.
The men’s team swept most races, winning 11 of 14 events and splitting the diving competitions.
“We just swam very fast, much faster than I expected at this point in the season,” head coach Joe Lucia said.
Cornell handily won the first five events, before a fiercely competitive 200 butterfly race. Colgate’s James Hadley (1:58.17) edged out freshman Doug Ernst by less than seconds to take the close event. Later in the meet Hadley triumphed again in the 100 fly, beating Cornell freshman John Kelleher (52.59) by .07 seconds in an exhibition event.
The Red freshmen got a chance to show-off, winning most of their events. Freshman Danny Diette had another big meet, winning the 100 backstroke (52.55) and the 100 freestyle (47.61). Classmate Scott Paavola finished first in the 200 freestyle (1:45.20). Other top performances for the Red were provided by senior John Kenny in the 1000 freestyle (9:50.62), freshmen Nicolas Graham in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.45), Paul Teta in the 50 freestyle (21.26), James Parrish in the 200 breaststroke (2:13.22), and junior Danny Royce in the 400 IM (4:08.36), who swam the race as an exhibition.
According to Lucia, Teta’s time was a personal best.
“It came at an interesting time. We didn’t expect him to do that well at this point,” the coach commented.
The men capped the meet off with a pool-record setting performance in the 200 freestyle relay. The team of juniors Bill Dillon, Jeremy Sample, Julian King and Charlie Ernst finished in 1:25.63.
The women’s team also won 11 of 14 events, but lost both diving events.
“We’re a much better dual meet team than in the past,” said head coach Marrie Neumer.
The freestyle events were keys for the Red, with freshman Elissa Kline continuing her leading ways, winning the 50 freestyle (25.31) and the 100 freestyle (53.87). Senior Virginia Morgan also captured two freestyle events, the 1000 (10:56.98) and the 500 (5:18.98).
“We’ve been incredibly committed to each other,” said Neumer, “we’ve been swimming very fast.”
Cornell won the first three events before senior Kari Tornabene (1:00.62) was touched out by Colgate’s Alice Garnett in the 100 backstroke by .25 seconds.
Junior Deanne Moyer in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.09), freshman Stephanie Kusko in the 200 butterfly (2:13.88), senior Whitney Yates in the 200 backstroke (2:08.77), and junior Courtney Tawresey in the 200 breaststroke (2:28.80) also tallied first place finishes for the Red.
Freshman diver Kara Neal fell to Colgate’s Jenn Busby in the diving events.
Neal placed second in the 1 meter (248.92) and 3 meter (243.00) events.
Archived article by Cammy Kandiko