Men’s and women’s swimming and diving make a splash in home opener

The Geneseo Men’s and Women’s Varsity Swimming and Diving teams took down Nazareth College in each of their respective meets on Saturday Oct. 22. The men’s team broke numerous records as they plowed toward a 170-108 victory, while the women’s team followed suit defeating the Golden Flyers 168-123. 

Senior Ben Ludlow, freshman Jake Nielsen, and juniors Mark Crocker and Sam Matthews worked to break the school record for the 400 Medley Relay, which dated back to 1979 with a time of 3:28.62. Ludlow was later able to set another pool record of 51.96 in the 100 Yard Backstroke. 

More of the same occurred in the 100 Yard Freestyle as Matthews finished at 46.65, setting another record for the Knights. Finally, senior Jake Nielsen—brother of sophomore Jordan Nielsen—Crocker, and Matthews took a record of their own in the 400 Yard Freestyle, with a time of 3:09.76. 

As the swim events concluded for the day, sophomore Trent Makowiec and freshman Jacob Calus took over the diving events for the team. Makowiec was able to finish with scores of 329.48 in the one-meter dive and 325.95 in the three-meter dive, while Calus recorded scores of 313.05 and 310.58 in the same events. 

The women’s team concluded the day with a victory as well, with freshmen Maya Marcyan, Alise Hale, and Rian Dickman along with junior Lauren Sposili starting the action with a win in the 400-yard medley with a time of 4:04.53. Right behind them was the team of freshmen Grace O'Neill, Abby Funk, Emily McCord, and sophomore Mackenzie Fischer finishing in second, recording a time of 4:09.75. 

The team didn’t stop there, as freshman Hannah Brockman was able to take first place in the 1000-yard freestyle with a finishing time of 10:55.57. After the win, teammates Sposili and Funk went head-to-head in the 200-yard freestyle, coming in first and second with times of 1:59.30 and 1:59.94, respectively. 

In another nail-biter, O’Neill (1:03.40) was able to narrowly defeat fellow Knight Marcyan (1:03.49) in the 100-yard backstroke. Fischer went on to finish first in two other events later in the day with times of 25.41 in the 50 Yard Freestyle and 2:32.28 in the 200 Yard Breaststroke event. 

The Knights placed first in four other swimming events before the three-meter dive took place to conclude the meet. Junior Jenna MacLeod came in first in the three-meter dive with a score of 262.95 to help the team defeat Nazareth.

Members of both teams were awarded SUNYAC Athlete of the Week honors, with Trent Makowiec, Sam Matthews, and Lauren Sposili being acknowledged for their hard work in the meets. 

The two teams will each look to continue their undefeated performances next week as they will match up against the Canisius College Griffins on Saturday, Oct. 29 at home.