Swimming and Diving teams drown Hamilton
Nathan Seder
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Sports
The Union men and women's swimming and diving teams earned a pair of impressive victories over Hamilton College on Saturday. The women won 139-102, while the men avenged their loss to Hamilton last year by a score of 131-98. The victory marked the final home meet for Union's senior class of Ashley Braniecki, Steve Cohen, Jamie Dughi, Molly Freeman, Shane Hubbell, Nathan Seder and Christa White in an emotional and exciting day.
The women's team earned another convincing win through the same team effort that has carried them thus far. Coming off breaking a school record in the 1000 freestyle and earning consideration for NCAA Nationals, Sara Callahan won the 1650 freestyle by over a minute. Braniecki and Christina Bladek followed up Callahan's performance by taking second and forth in the 200 freestyle. Not to be outdone, Maria Prendergast and White took first and second in the 50 freestyle. Another first and second place performance in the 200 IM by Kirstin Burdett and Amy Nestlerode helped Union gain a lead over Hamilton, who had kept the meet tighter than usual.
Union's divers turned in a dominating performance that saw Freeman, Meredith Nearpass, Libby Fortier and Erica Finkelstein take first, second, forth and fifth on both the one and three meter boards. Freeman's score of 253.95 on the one meter board broke her own school record.
After the diving events, the Dutchwomen were able to separate themselves from Hamilton for the win. White and Prendergast took first and second in the 100 freestyle, and Amy Nestlerode, Burdett and Annora Brennan took first, second and forth in the 200 backstroke. Nestlerode had the race of her life, breaking Union's school record in the event and earning consideration for Nationals with her time of 2.08.03. A victory by Callahan in the 500 freestyle led to the 400 freestyle relay, where Union took first and third to finish the meet. White, Braniecki, Prendergast and Burdett took first, while Callahan, Brennan, Taylor Connolly and Sarah Yergeau took third.
The women's team earned another convincing win through the same team effort that has carried them thus far. Coming off breaking a school record in the 1000 freestyle and earning consideration for NCAA Nationals, Sara Callahan won the 1650 freestyle by over a minute. Braniecki and Christina Bladek followed up Callahan's performance by taking second and forth in the 200 freestyle. Not to be outdone, Maria Prendergast and White took first and second in the 50 freestyle. Another first and second place performance in the 200 IM by Kirstin Burdett and Amy Nestlerode helped Union gain a lead over Hamilton, who had kept the meet tighter than usual.
Union's divers turned in a dominating performance that saw Freeman, Meredith Nearpass, Libby Fortier and Erica Finkelstein take first, second, forth and fifth on both the one and three meter boards. Freeman's score of 253.95 on the one meter board broke her own school record.
After the diving events, the Dutchwomen were able to separate themselves from Hamilton for the win. White and Prendergast took first and second in the 100 freestyle, and Amy Nestlerode, Burdett and Annora Brennan took first, second and forth in the 200 backstroke. Nestlerode had the race of her life, breaking Union's school record in the event and earning consideration for Nationals with her time of 2.08.03. A victory by Callahan in the 500 freestyle led to the 400 freestyle relay, where Union took first and third to finish the meet. White, Braniecki, Prendergast and Burdett took first, while Callahan, Brennan, Taylor Connolly and Sarah Yergeau took third.
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